A group of friends and I went to the historic Blair Mansion Inn in Silver Spring for a performance of Motown Murder Mystery. It’s definitely one of the more interesting places to dine in Silver Spring, not to mention the most fun.
When we arrived at the mansion, we had some misgivings, since it seemed to be falling apart. The roof is undergoing some renovations at this point. Once we entered, we were greeted by a fancifully decorated lobby filled with antiques and a woman who offered us some tasty appetizers, such as mini pizzas and spinach pockets, while we waited in line to pay for our tickets (the computer system was also undergoing some renovations.)
Once we got through the lobby, we were escorted to our dining room, which was smaller than I expected. I’d say it accommodates roughly 200 people. I was also surprised that there was no stage for the performers. The diners are literally in on the action.
After a few minutes of waiting at our nicely set table, having our drink orders taken, and being offered appetizers a couple more times, we got our turn to check out the buffet. I use the term buffet loosely, since buffets are usually, at least in my experience, at a long table with a way for guests to serve themselves from either side. The buffet area at Blair Mansion Inn was tiny, with all of the food in a corner room the size of a walk-in closet. It was difficult to navigate without ending up with your elbow in someone else’s pasta salad.
However, the pasta salad was very good, as well as the other options, such as vegetarian lasagna, fruit salad, Caesar salad, apple fritters, roast chicken, green beans and lots more. (The buffet menu varies each performance.) My fellow guests enjoyed their meals as well, although some wished there were more main dish options.
The real main dish at Blair Mansion is the show. While we enjoyed our dessert, a yummy apple cobbler type dish with ice cream, the performance began-with the introduction of “Diana Russ,” arriving to sign karaoke in the hopes of being signed. We are then introduced to her scheming manager, an angry looking man who approached our table and asked if I’d ever heard of her. I say I have of course, and he goes, “No you haven’t. Don’t lie.”
We then meet some other characters in the show-a married couple, also vying for a contract, who sings “I’ll be there,” while the husband flirts with one of the guests at a table nearby. (This proves to be a problem, since his wife just happens to have killed out of jealousy in the past-oops.) Then we meet Diana’s Uncle Smokey, “who is not really related to her,” but has a lust for her, and more importantly, her money.
While all of this drama is going on, the performers banter with the audience in what reminds me of a Jerry Seinfeld stand-up show. I am then invited to be one of Diana Russ’s back-up dancers, also known as the sub-pars, and many other audience members are asked to go to the center of the room and sing karaoke. Guests are asked to give their opinions of the karaoke performances and the action unfolding, and to get involved in the characters’ strange, but oddly comical, relationship issues.
The only caveat I have with the show is that they seemed to forget it was a murder mystery. In the last ten minutes they thought, “Oh, yea. We have to kill somebody,” and the angry manager is finally offed with some poisoned champagne. I didn’t mind, since I was having such a good time anyway, but the arrival of the detective, who grilled the audience as to what was going on, seemed rushed and contrived. But then again it was funny, since most people didn’t have a clue.
The murderer turns out to be who you expected but not. You’ll have to see the show for that to (maybe) make sense. The loose ends are quickly tied up and everyone, including the miraculously revived victim, comes out for a bow.
Finally, all of the guests celebrating a birthday were asked to stand, and they were presented with a slice of cake and a song. The audience members who participated in the show were rewarded with Blair Mansion mugs. The atmosphere was light and giddy as we walked out, like the show had been a breath of fresh air.
Blair Mansion Inn is a great destination in Silver Spring, only a few blocks from the town center (call for directions as it can be a bit confusing to find). The shows are entertaining for all ages, although I wouldn’t recommend bringing toddlers who will not be happy to sit for about 3 hours.
The cost is around $50 per person for dinner and the show. The mansion also hosts many other events and has private party rooms for special occasions.
