Square Dancing Friends Russ and Jane Matz (left foreground), Mark and Nancy Meinzer, lady friend Sue Brooks, Roberta Karger (white sweater) and husband Don are enjoying the ambiance of the old Ohio State Reformatory just before a recent dinner-theater event there.  This view is in the visiting area of the old prison between the main cell blocks.  The caricatures of Stalin and Lenin on the background walls are remnants of the movie Air Force One, segments of which were filmed in the restored, old prison.

DINNER THEATER IN JAIL--

That old prison out on the Olivesburg road was the perfect setting for a murder-mystery, dinner theater recently.

We dined behind bars between the massive cellblocks that held more than 154,000 prisoners during its macabre history—many of whom reside forever in the adjacent graveyard beside the old railroad tracks out back, known only by their numbers on simple tombstones.

The night’s ambiance was supported by blizzard-like, weather conditions pushing frigid wisps of cold through the audience. Or, so it seemed.

Often during the show I could visualize the rat-holes of solitary confinement in the dank sub-basement below that massive structure of concrete, stone and steel.

The play, Murder at Rutherford House, was set on the fifth anniversary of the death of Lord Rutherford. We were guests of Lady Rutherford at her annual dinner in commemoration of her husband’s passing.

When seated we were given an envelope of clues to be opened only as instructed during the performance. Periodically cast members would wander among the dining guests and for an amusingly sinister “bribe” would share other clues with that table of diners.

Suddenly there was a gunshot resulting in the evening’s first corpse. A “detective” revealed himself and began an investigation. Clues seemed to be everywhere but some weren’t as they appeared.

Cast members included names like Hermione Rutherford, Ruby Pinkbottom, Wendle Weedle, and Baroness Greta Von Keepsemfrumfloppen (pronounce that one carefully) and you will realize there was considerable humor during the ghastly event.

Ultimately, the success of the performance was sealed when only 3 folks of the 150 present solved the crime correctly.

Actually, I didn’t feel bad when I was among the failed detectives.

I noticed my friend, Judge Jim Henson of the county’s common pleas court was in attendance, and didn’t figure it out correctly either.

Kudos to the cast and crew for a marvelous production, and, to the preservation society working to save this magnificent structure.