Aug 26 2011

It’s Curtains for Murder Afloat!

Category: Behind-The-Scenes,Show Info — Jack North @ 2:03 pm

After 22 years of committing mayhem in the name of entertainment I have decided to hang up my hat!

Okay, I have no idea what that means, but I will tell you simply that my wife and I have decided to retire (for the time being, at least) from the murder mystery business. Thanks to all the crew members, staff and management of the River Street Riverboat Company for making the last 14 years very enjoyable for our company.

Thanks, of course, to all the actors and actresses through the years. Some were only in the show for a season or two, but most of the actors were with me for more than 10 years. It’s been a pleasure working with all of them.

Thanks to the audiences over the years for making Murder Afloat a success. The Girl Scouts of America who visited Savannah and made sure that the show was included in their activities were especially loyal.

I haven’t given much thought to what I should do with the website; whether to devote it to a discussion of riverboat mysteries, fiction content, or to turn it into a company where you could order real-life hits on your enemies. I’m not sure of the legalities of that, so if you have any other suggestions please contact us. We’ll still be getting our messages from here. (You can leave comments below.)

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Sep 08 2010

2010 Season Ends – Time To Write for 2011

Category: Behind-The-Scenes,Murder Afloat Schedule,Show Info — Jack North @ 4:46 pm

Thanks to all who attended this year’s show. We had another great season, and enjoyed seeing so many of our repeat audience members.

Because of the two major films shot in Savannah last year, Miley Cyrus’ The Last Song, and Robert Redford’s The Conspirator, the script for this season’s show centered around the film industry. It was particularly rewarding to have a select few film fans comment on the many little film-related “inside jokes.” Particularly, the two who recognized one character’s name, Carl LaFong, as a nod to the immortal W.C. Fields. Other name references in our script included Alan Smithee, a pseudonym used by directors who do not wish to be connected with a film, and Wilhelm Scream, a particular sound effect used in scores of films. Each of these references were caught by two other attentive film fans.

I’m not sure what the theme of the 2011 show will be just yet, so be sure to check back later. As usual, I probably won’t spill the beans, be as I indicated above, we like repeat visitors. ;-)

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Jun 03 2010

3D Process Used in Murder Afloat – No Glasses Needed!

Category: Behind-The-Scenes,Show Info — Jack North @ 8:00 am

This year’s Murder Afloat is being presented in an exclusive  3D process known as…oh, I don’t know…how about Float-O-Vision. As you walk around the riverboat watching the live production, you will be able to see the actors just as if they were standing right in front of you, which, of course, they are! You’ll be able to walk around them and see them from all sides. You will feel as if you could reach out and touch them. (This, in fact, is actually possible, though we do not encourage touching our actors. Without their consent.)

All without having to wear special glasses!

(Please note that this process will not be included in any future DVD or Blu-Ray release of our show. The only way to experience Float-O-Vision is to see the show in person.)

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Feb 19 2010

Some Hints Regarding This Year’s Show

Category: Behind-The-Scenes,Murder Afloat Cast,Show Info — Jack North @ 7:38 pm

It’s a tradition with Murder Afloat that we don’t tell anyone about the storyline of the show beforehand. We want it to be a surprise. But since you’re reading these posts, I can give you a little inside information. For example, this season’s script  is That’ll Do For Now by Lorem Ipsum (as told to Jack North). There. Now, that’s the first time in the company’s history I’ve revealed the title to the public. (Okay, here’s a bonus bit: there is no Lorem Ipsum.)

Of course, I guess I should also tell you another tradition of Murder Afloat: the title of the script has absolutely nothing to do with the story. Really. But back in 1990, our first season, someone asked the name of the “play.” We answered “Murder Afloat.” That didn’t seem to satisfy this potential customer, who continued, “That’s the company’s name. What’s the name of the play?” So my wife and I made one up on the spot. It was Never Had a Prayer.

Last year’s show was about a therapy group who were on a social outing on the boat. The title was One Potato II. There were of course, no potatoes in the story. Not even French fries. Other titles over the years include Jungle Boy’s Secret Treasure, Professor Ming’s Roman Holiday, The Life and Times of Lance Boyle – Private Eye, and Old Doc Shepard Takes a Bride. Need I say there were no treasures, professor’s, private eyes or old docs in any of those shows?

But now you do know the title of this year’s show, and that’s something. When you come to the show this season, mention it to one of our actors and we may teach you the secret handshake!

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Jan 25 2010

Production Notes – Decoder Rings and Clues

Category: Behind-The-Scenes,Show Info — Jack North @ 10:24 pm

Well, the script has finally started writing itself. Boy, it was giving me some concern for a while. It was hiding and playing hard-to-get. But it’s cookin’ now, kiddies. So be sure to get your decoder ring and watch this spot for clues for solving this season’s mystery ;)

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Jan 04 2010

Miley Cyrus, Robert Redford in Savannah

Category: Behind-The-Scenes,Savannah Happenings,Show Info — Jack North @ 9:19 pm

With Miley Cyrus shooting her first non-Hannah Montana movie, The Last Song, here last summer, and Robert Redford directing the civil war drama The Conspirator this past fall, it seems we were a little premature in doing a paparazzi storyline a couple years back. (Before Miley’s project was even announced we even had a reference in the script to one of characters doing a Hannah Montana rip-off called  Dinah Carolina!) That’s us, though; always ahead of the curve :)

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