Bonnie Bozzo Murder Mystery Series Marks Sixth Year

The sixth presentation of the Murder Mystery Series was presented in a two-act play written and directed by local author, Bonnie Bozzo on Friday, February 28.

“Death at the Dude Ranch” welcomed guests to a full Western experience. The setting is the Tequila Mockingbird Ranch in the remote Nevada desert, whose main purpose is to provide anonymity and privacy to high-profile guests seeking a no-fault divorce. The play begins with a sad western break-up song playing.

According to resident Donna Kaczka, “I have attended every murder mystery that Bonnie has written since I joined Just Friends five years ago. Bonnie is so creative and all the murder mysteries have been very funny and entertaining. The whole cast does a great job.”

The venue for the past four years has been Da Vinci’s Restaurant, where Adamo Serravalle has been the gracious host opening the restaurant especially for this exclusive performance. And it was always to a sell-out crowd treated to a plate of antipasto and their beverages of choice.

Most of the luncheon guests arrived in their favorite western outfits, complete with cowboy hats and matching boots, getting into the spirit of a western dude ranch.

The guests were also presented with an exciting list of clues from the actors.

At the play’s end, each table had to fill in their best guesses and submit their ballots. Only when all the ballots have been collected and reviewed will the murderer be revealed.

The Charm City Players, founded by Bozzo, consists of a small group of dedicated local entertainers/actors. Some actors have participated in only one or two shows, while a core group has dedicated their time and efforts for all six seasons. The name Charm City Players was chosen to represent the small islands that appear to be charms hanging off the mainland coast of Florida, forming a bracelet, Bozzo said. Hence, referencing the City of Marco Island, which is considered to be the loveliest, a truly charming city.

According to Bozzo, it is the dedication and commitment of Susie Walsh, Cindy Crane, Trish Pease, Annette Mennella, and a two-year veteran, Yoland Medwid, that has made the plays so successful. The group has dedicated hundreds of hours of rehearsal time and shared in the staging and production.

At the start of the Second Act, Heida Baer was found dead, hit on the head, and trampled by horses. She was actually a federal agent investigating everybody and had the goods on all of the guests. Who killed Heida Baer?

Also, a shout-out to Rachel DeHanas, one of the group’s core players who was in from the beginning. As a special treat for this sixth series, Bonnie’s granddaughter Cate Knothe, visiting from Boise, Idaho, was the official videographer. 

It is well known in this close-knit circle of friends that Bozzo has not only written mystery plays she is also well-known as an author of adventure fiction. Her published book titles include “Desert Rescue,” “Desert Escape,” “Leningrad Exchange,” “From the Edge of Survival,” and “A Season of Blue Stones.” Also written as a fictionalized version of a true Marco Island mystery is “The Disappearing Deputy.”