Mystery Players stage interactive Murder at Mardi Gras dinner-theatre in Monroe County

Mystery Players staged "Murder at Mardi Gras" in the Upper Keys on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 17, pairing a four-course Cajun meal with an interactive murder-mystery performance that invited audience participation and costumes. The production billed itself as a blend of humor, suspense and Mardi Gras flair, opening with the untimely death of party host and eccentric billionaire Pierre Dupre to kick off the whodunit.

Patrice Messina, founder and director of Mystery Players, anchored the production’s food plans and noted a change in how the company handled meals. “It’s going to be Cajun food catered by Todd at Calypso’s,” Messina said, adding that the arrangement marked a shift from past practice: “We’ve never had it catered before; we’ve always used the Elks.” The dessert and course structure was described as a traditional four-course Cajun meal in promotional material and local coverage.

Local performers filled the cast. Pierre Dupre was played by Skip Bradeen, identified in coverage as a longtime Islamorada fishing charter captain. Craig Zabransky encouraged audience members to dress for the theme and to engage directly with the performers. “I think if they come in costume and really embrace the Mardi Gras aspect of it, they will get into it,” Zabransky said in advance of the show.

Actors emphasized the immediate rewards of interactive theater during the performance. Robert Pozo, with his wife Gaby Pozo also in the cast, described the appeal in practical terms: “It’s that instant gratification of seeing people react to what you do on stage.” Keysweekly characterized the evening as “hilarious,” noting that guests would feast on Cajun food while solving a murder mystery, a framing that linked the production to Fat Tuesday’s local traditions of parades, music, elaborate costumes and over-indulgence.

Promotional outreach for the event included an Instagram post inviting patrons to enjoy a dinner while solving a Mardi Gras murder mystery and directing followers to the company’s online booking page. Coverage and promotional snippets did not include the exact venue name or address, showtimes, ticket prices, seating arrangements or age restrictions. Messina’s reference to previously using the Elks suggests Mystery Players has staged dinners at community venues in the past, but those operational details were not supplied in the available materials.