PITTSTON — The 80s came to the Gramercy Ballroom on Oct. 20, complete with big hair, loud colors, glamour, glitter and a bit of mystery.
The third annual Murder Mystery Dinner, benefiting the Pittston Memorial Library, raises money for the library, while providing a somewhat unique way to spend a Saturday night.
Danielle Judge, of Taylor, learned about the event on Facebook and, intrigued by the idea of solving a mystery in such an attraction, came out with her friend Susan Swingle, of Dupont, for a night of fun, food and friends.
Judge, whose 80s garb included large colorful poof earrings and spikey hair, said the event was all she had hoped it would be and more.
“We had fun trying to figure out who it was,” she said. “First, we thought it was someone and then we were sure it was someone else.”
Judge even questioned the Sunday Dispatch reporter and photographer at length until she was assured they were not “plants.”
Jenette Stapert, of Nanticoke, enjoyed not only attending the event, but assuming the role of Muffy, who was allegedly “shot with a knife,” during the performance.
Stapert drew laughter from the crowd as she was able to not only shake with laughter while “dead,” but also walk back to her seat.
Coordinating and staffing the event with actors was the Murder Mystery Company, returning to the event for a third year.
The Company, which this year sent a troop from New York, provided four actors who made their way through the audience, dropping clues and eliciting laughter.
Company members directed attendees as they paged through a binder containing clues. They then had opportunity to spend “bribe money” to get clues from other participants.
An audience favorite was “Detective Patty Cakes,” who spoke with a British lisp and a seemingly less-than-stellar command of the English language.
Krista Moss, of West Pittston, attended the event with her husband Matt dressed in 80s movie-themed attire as an opportunity to support the library while spending a night out on the town.
Moss said her boys, ages 2 and 5, have enjoyed not only borrowing books from the library, but story time, Lego, miniature golf, harvest festival and scarecrow events.
She said her 2-year-old cannot pass the library, without yelling, “Story time!”
“My husband is also a judge for the pie contest during one of the festivals,” she added.
Noelle Kovak, programming coordinator at the library, said, although the event had a light theme, it had a serious purpose — raising money for the library.
Kovak said libraries have grown in scope and activity but are underfunded and need to seek creative ways to raise money.
Kovak was grateful the event was able to draw sponsorship from local businesses in addition to the cost of attending.
“I’m thrilled and grateful for the businesses, sponsors and individuals that have made this event possible,” she said.
Carol Coolbaugh, a staff member at the library, attended the event for the third year with fellow staff members.
“It’s a great way to spend time with fellow workers and get to know members of the community,” she said.
When the event concluded with the revelation that “Cyndi Leapyear” had killed not one, but two people, Coolbaugh was not surprised.
“We thought it might have been ‘Pat Minotaur’,” she said. “But I was pretty sure it was Cyndi.”
