Review of AspenDream's 'Murder...Is a Family Business'

‘Murder...Is a Family Business’ is an interactive performance written, created and directed by Janice Luise-Lutkus, Executive Director of AspenDream Productions.

The executive director is an actress, director, and playwright who is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, the League of Professional Women, and Stage Directors & Choreographers Society. She studied at UConn and Yale University and is a teacher with decades of professional experience. Her production company is an award-winning live entertainment company that creates one-of-a-kind, immersive theatrical experiences.

What that means is that the audience becomes an integral part of the action in what is deemed “environmental theatre.” In ‘Murder,’ patrons become wedding guest at a crazy Italian mob wedding; as they enjoy the typical wedding reception rituals, they also try to solve the murder of one of the members of the family. The talented group of Connecticut actors begin by sharing the backstory of the wedding of Donna Machiavelli and Danny Lambrusco. The audience members are invited to be guests at the wedding, and the fun reception commences with a bang. While dinner is served, the members of the wedding party circulate in character and discuss clues to the identity of the murderer and other gossip. At the end of this truly immersive event, the murder investigation is wrapped up and it somehow feels like breaking the fourth wall in reverse as the actors take their well-deserved curtain calls.

Ms. Luise-Lutkus believes that the days of passively watching a theatrical experience unfold in a darkened theater are long gone. This is definitely not a stage performance; the actions takes place all around the audience. The experience of ‘Murder...Is a Family Business’ is a ‘real’ mafia murder mystery that takes you on an adventure. Patrons are encouraged to “stay in character” the entire evening, and all are presented with a name tag of a celebrity that serves as their ‘big house nickname.’ The more you listen and interact with the members of this crazy mob, the better your chances of getting out alive. After the event, you can count yourself an honorary member of the mob.

I experienced ‘Murder’ during a Lady Katherine Cruise on the CT River, a co-production with AspenDream. In this venue, the action took place amongst the white linen tables on both levels of the beautiful ship. Courteous wait staff took care of the wedding guests’ needs and uniformed crew members were on hand to assist the passengers. The cruise itself was a dream on the calm waters of the CT River; it mostly felt like we were not even moving, and before and after the sun went down, it was lovely to watch the scenery from the windows.

The program requested that everyone kindly keep their voices and conversation low so that fellow patrons could hear the interactive scenes going on around them. I wished that more patrons had read that request, because this was an issue at times for me. The wireless microphones that are part of the Lady Katherine’s sound system on this boat worked very intermittently and my tablemates and I had difficulty making out a good chunk of what was being said. AspenDream provides the music and singing, but they have no control on the quality of the sound. That is always provided by the client with whom they are partnering; on the night of my cruise the owner was on hand to review the problem.

I had a great time becoming part of the mob family in this murder business. The director/producer told me that some wedding guests come dressed like movie stars, so that is what I went for with my outfit; this helped me to feel more a part of the action. The wonderful actors that brought these strongly drawn characters to life worked very hard throughout their almost three hour performance and never broke character. I was invited to have a dance with Uncle Franco himself and he did not know who I was when he asked. Everything on the buffet table was delicious and plentiful; everyone at my table agreed that the rolls were to die for, well, not literally. Fuggetaboutit!

Although this theatrical review is different from most, I am compelled to comment upon the great performances of this troupe of actors. Don Rondini was the boss in the role of Franco “The Spread” Machiavelli, the New York mob boss. Tom Hebert was the groom Danny Lombrusco who works for Waterbury Sanitation. His not-so-blushing bride Donna, a niece of Uncle Franco, was brought to life by Melissa Rand. She chose a red bra to wear under her traditional wedding gown and she added a pink veil to her tiara; both fashion choices give you an idea of the bride’s personality.

Uncle Franco’s mobster “boys” included Steve Yedelson as Sonny Cortizone, Dan DiVirglio as his arch enemy The Finger, and Mike O’Mara as (wait for it!) Sal Manilla, Franco’s left hand man.

Franco’s “girls” were both a hoot. Barbara Stolarik played Sophia I’llCastratya, Franco’s current squeeze on the lookout for money and men. Eileen Dover, the bride’s best friend and bridesmaid, was played by Barbara Harvey. The other attendant of the bride was Bertha, played by John Moran.

The in-laws included Franco’s ex-wife Stella played by Donna Ekegran and the mother of the groom Mama “Angie” Lambrusco, who also happens to be the head of the rival Lambrusco family. Mama, as everybody calls her, was brought to life by community theatre actor Jenney Rivard in head-to-toe black. I remembered Ms. Rivard from ‘The Curse of the Hopeless Diamond’ by the Castle Craig Players.

Special guests at the wedding that rounded out the cast were Mr. Moran as FBI Special Agent Orange, Steve Ossias as the adorable Father O’Flasky and Joe Garahan as MC Hammered, the DJ for this wedding. I loved the costumes that made every character more realistic. Patrick Hearn did the choreography.

This year marks AspenDream Productions’ 21st anniversary. The company has performed in over 72 cities in New England and they have performed for over 20,000 guests. AspenDream has helped raise nearly a million dollars for charities, fundraisers and corporations throughout CT alone.

The adventures of AspenDream range from a number of murder mysteries to comedy weddings. All are a blend of talented local performers and the heightened sense of realism from those actors in which audiences experience a high caliber, in-your-face, cutting-edge brand of theater. All of the works by Ms. Luise-Lutkus were inspired by growing up in a loving Italian-American family...there really is an ‘Uncle Franco.’

Upcoming chances to become part of the ‘Murder’ mob are listed below.

Saturday, April 28, 2017
Murder is a Family Business©
Benefit: Stratford Library Association
Location: Oronoque Country Club, Oronoque Lane, Stratford, CT 06614
Tix & Info: 203.385.4166.

Saturday, May 19, 2017
Murder is a Family Business©
Guilford Mooring http://www.guilfordmooring.com/
505 Whitfield Street, Guilford, CT
Tix & Info: (203) 458-2921 and ask for Angelina Scarpello

Saturday, July 7, 2018
Mob’s Murder Mystery©
Lady Katherine Cruises
Eagle Landing State Park, Haddam CT
Tix & Info (866) 867-4837

Saturday, July 28, 2018
Mob’s Murder Mystery©
Benefit: Treasured Time
Location: Vazzanos Four Seasons 337 Kenyon St, Stratford, CT 06614
Tix & Info: TBA

Saturday, October 21, 2018
A Halloween WhoDunnit©
Lady Katherine Cruises
Eagle Landing State Park, Haddam CT
Tix & Info (866) 867-4837