LAURINBURG – Maleficence is afoot and evil is coming to Laurinburg, but it’s for a good cause.

Scotland County Literacy Council will hold its 11th Annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church at 302 E. Church Street.

The play, “Evil Never Dies,” is directed by Rick Hodges.

“Rick Hodges has been very good about helping us get things together this year, so we can’t forget to thank him,” said Janie Adams, director of the literacy council.

This year’s mystery is set in the town of Reaper Junction where Evil-Eyed Emil was run out of town 100 years ago on Halloween night because when he looked at residents with his right eye tragedy struck. Emil vowed revenge upon the descendants of the mob, and it appears he has returned to kill off Grimsby Graves.

Guests can enjoy dinner while they watch the play and try to pick up clues to solve the crime.

“The question is, did Emil do it or did he have a little assistance,” Adams said. “The suspects will share their story, and the dinner guests have to try to figure out whodunnit.”

Local volunteers make up the cast of six eccentric characters one of whom may be responsible for poor Grimsby’s death. Gyvian Jackson portrays Tara Cardoli the town fortune teller, Preston Jackson is Jack Lantern local grower of unusual pumpkins, Kyle Bethel is mortician Bella Bones, Deck Guess is Gregory Graves who has an unusual hobby, Deon Cranford III plays barber Todd Sweeny who uses a straight razor, and Janice Creed portrays Penelope Crust the town baker who uses some unusual ingredients.

Tickets are $20 per individual and $30 per couple. Dinner is included in the cost.

“We also are being mindful of vegetarians this year. We have chicken pot pie and vegetable pot pie with a salad and sweet potatoes, and for dessert we have baked goods from the Reaper Junction Bakery,” Adams said with a devious tone in her voice.

Proceeds from the evening go toward the everyday cost of running the literacy council. Many of the grants the council receives are for programs alone leaving the council to cover overhead and day to day costs, according to Adams.

Although tickets will be available at the door, Adams recommends purchasing them ahead of time due to a seating limit of 60.

Tickets are available at the Literacy Council and at Quick Copy at 307 S. Main Street.

For information call Scotland County Literacy Council 910-276-7007. The council is located at 213 McLaurin Ave. and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Literacy Council holds murder mystery dinner

By Beth Lawrence

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Reach Beth Lawrence 910-506-3169