ur name must be getting around out there. Customers have witnessed our Murder Mysteries throughout Northern California, from San Francisco to San Jose, including the East Bay, North Bay and South Bay. We've received a good deal of press from folks who have enjoyed a good old-fashioned night of Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre. If you come across a review that is not listed below, please email us and let us know. We'd love to add to the collection.

View a local television review of our Maltese Crow Dinner show in Pleasanton, CA.

Delta acts as stage for Discovery Cruises by Samie Hartley Actors from the Gibson House Mystery Performers come aboard the Island Serenade once a month for murder-mystery dinners. The next pirate-themed cruise sets sail on Saturday, Aug. 29. Photo by Stacey Chance Wouldn’t it be nice to go on a cruise? The idea of a pleasure trip has never been more inviting than in the troubled waters of the tsunami that is our economy, but who can afford that? Most people are sticking close to home for their adventures this summer, but a cruise can now go on your staycation wish list, courtesy of Delta Discovery Cruises. The Pittsburg-based company, owned by Steve and Heather Ingram, creates unique Delta experiences, allowing guests to do everything from bird watching to enjoying a dinner-theater production. “There are 1,500 miles of waterways to explore in the Delta,” said Steve, “but it seems like a lot of the locals don’t have ways of accessing the water so that they can enjoy what the Delta has to offer.” The Ingrams docked their 65-foot vessel Island Serenade at the Pittsburg Marina last year after migrating to warmer climates, leaving their touring business in Salt Lake City to pursue a new opportunity. The two-level ship was custom made to serve as a tour vessel – every seat in the climate-controlled main salon has a view. The lower deck is wheelchair-accessible, and the upper deck is open for dancing, sightseeing or just passing the time in a deck chair. The vast waters of the Delta have allowed the Ingrams to create new tours based on the rich ecology and history of the area, taking groups of up to 49 people all over the Delta – even all the way up to Sacramento. One of the most popular tours is the Mothball Fleet Cruise, where the Ingrams take guests up to Suisun Bay to check out Navy reserve ships, including the USS Iowa, which saw action during World War II. Steve pilots the Island Serenade past the docked ships, gliding within 500 feet of the dormant vessels, as a local historian tells stories about the ships that rest near the Benicia-Martinez Bridge. While the educational tours are a favorite for all ages, a variety of other tours are available. The Ingrams introduced the Psychic Cruise in April, in which guests get their fortunes told and their auras read. Next month, the Ingrams will debut their series of jazz concert cruises, featuring the gentle melodies of the Delta Jazz Trio. This winter, the Ingrams plan to host Christmas-themed cruises featuring appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus, and for the adults, a “Who Killed Santa?” murder-mystery cruise. Delta Discovery Cruises has become known for its murder-mystery dinner theater cruises, featuring actors from the Gibson House Mystery Performers. During these cruises, guests are treated to dinner and a show as the Island Serenade peacefully travels along the Delta. Prizes are awarded to the person who identifies the killer. For those who want to be more involved in the action, the Ingrams created their own Hawaiian Murder Mystery tour, where guests are cast in roles and work together to solve the crime. “The Hawaiian Murder Mystery is a lot of fun, especially for large groups,” Heather said. “It is a fun family activity because you have to get up and move around and talk to people.” Prices for the tours range from $20 per person for a tour with no food service to $29 for a two-hour cruise with a cold lunch or $39 with a hot lunch. The Hawaiian Murder Mystery tour is $49, and a tour featuring the actors from Gibson House costs $69. Private tours are also available for all types of occasions, from birthday parties to weddings. The Ingrams have also begun to network with the commu nity, hosting fundraising tours to support local organizations. On Aug. 9, the Island Serenade will host a fundraiser for Homeless Animals Response Program. For $50, guests will be taken on a sunset cruise and treated a gourmet dinner. Proceeds will go toward the veterinary care of dogs and cats rescued by the program. For more information about Delta Discovery Cruises, call 925-252-9300 or visit www.deltadiscoverycruises.com. Thanks for reading! thepress.net - Your hometown source for East Contra Costa Review from Napa Valley Register Wine Train hosts comedy nights this summer By SASHA PAULSEN Register Features Editor The Wine Train has always inspired a bit of local drama, but as it celebrates its 20th year in the valley, its winemaker lunches and dinners, Murder Mystery nights and annual Santa Claus runs have melded into the local scene. Riding the Wine Train last weekend to experience its newest offering — a series of one-act comedies served up with the four-course dinner and wine — what was striking was how many locals were happily on board what was initially viewed as a strictly tourist proposition. Fourth-generation valley girls Judy Pina of Napa, and Elaine Pina and Debbie Polvarino of St. Helena were there for a girls’ night out. Damon and Angelica Larmon from Angwin had decided to try a ride on the train — his first, although she had ridden the lunch train before. It turns out they’d chosen a good night. After successfully offering entertainment like the popular “Murder on the Wine Train” dinners and the annual Christmas Santa Claus run, the Wine Train management “was looking for something new,” said director John Gibson, when they approached him  about presenting a theater night onboard. “I read 65 plays,” said Gibson, who is producer and director of Benicia’s Gibson House. Its performers have been seen before at a plethora of private productions in the valley. The goal was to find one-act comedies that his actors could perform in the narrow aisles of a moving train. The result was “Trainplays,” four highly amusing works that the talented troupe presented while dodging busy servers. Although the Wine Train may seem a slow-moving beast to the observer watching it pass, onboard there is a definite sense of motion as one maneuvers up and down the aisles. In all, seven actors performed twice on the way to St. Helena, while the servers brought out the appetizers, salads and entrees; and twice after the train was heading back and the diners had moved to the Silverado lounge car for coffee and dessert. Gibson said his actors had one dress rehearsal on the train “but it was at the station.” The audience, however, never would have known the actors didn’t routinely perform on trains. They opened with “It’s Not You!” by Craig Pospisli, which conveniently took place on a train, as four friends (Tina Luisen, Krisi Pilkington, Greg Davis and Tenaya Hurst) decide they need to ditch one of their group between stops. Alex Broun’s “Saturday Night, Sunday Morning” featured Dennis Parlett and Kori Parlett in a skit in which a young woman is persuaded out of her morning-after-a-wild-night guilt by an imaginative young man. Pilkington, as a plain housewife, and Michelle Davis, as a glamorous actress, sparred over one husband in the third skit, “A Matter of Husbands.” And appropriately paired with dessert was “The Kiss,” a sexy clash between two business people on a train (Kori Parlett and Dennis Parlett) who are distracted from their agenda by the passionate carryings-on of another couple, played with gusto by Greg and Michelle Davis. The troupe, which has also performed on a boat, Gibson noted, kept on their feet, and the servers were equally cat-footed. Steward Daniel Parker said, who has been with the Wine Train for four years, said it was all in a night’s work. “It was a little tricky,” said Pilkington, the Napa member of Gibson’s troupe who has also been seen on stage at Dreamweavers Theatre. Gibson’s is “where I got my start,” she said. “Thank goodness there were the back of seats to take hold of,” said Pilkington, who noted it was her first ride on the Wine Train. “We had a wonderful time,” Gibson said, adding that the troupe will be performing their comedy night on the train throughout the summer. The local riders as well gave two thumbs up to the new dramatic venture. “It’s very romantic,” Angelica Larmon said. “It’s a beautiful train.” “I didn’t know a lot about it,” Daniel Larmon agreed. “But it’s really a beautiful old train. We’ll be back. I think we’ll try the murder dinner next.” Riding the Wine Train The next Comedy Night is Friday. Check-in begins at 5:45 p.m. Boarding is at 6 p.m. The train returns to Napa at 9:30 p.m. For dinner plus the performance, the cost is $135 per person. • Also on Friday, on another special run, for the first time passengers will be able to disembark in St. Helena to attend Cheers! St. Helena, a downtown walk-around food and wine event. The Cheers! train leaves the station at 5 p.m., and arrives at 6 p.m. A return train leaves St. Helena promptly at 9 p.m. • The ticket is $30 round trip. With a tasting bracelet for the night, the cost is $65. A Cheers representataive will be onboard pouring tastes of wines from Napa Valley Farms. • The Napa station at 1275 McKinstry St. For schedules and reservations on the Wine Train, visit winetrain.com or call 253-2111.   Mystery Dinner to Raise Funds for Camel Barns By Maya Strausberg (Benicia Herald, Oct. 21, 2006) Never before has solving a murder been so fun. But that's exactly what it is when "The Maltese Crow Murder" comes to the Benicia Historical Museum Saturday, Oct. 14 at 6:45 p.m. Gibson House Mystery Performers present a murder mystery that will keep you guessing the whole night. This interactive dinner theatre will offer the audience members a chance to play detective. Solving the murder may even mean winning a prize. This is Gibons House's third production in Benicia, following "Murder in the Old Wild West" and "Funeral for a Gangster." diablo Magazine Top 10 Things to Do (January, 2005) Set your Nancy Drew alter ego free at the Mystery Dinner Theater’s Murder in the Old Wild West. Enjoy a meal in the authentic Western setting of the old Pleasanton Hotel, and try to figure out whodunit. (925) 846-8106, www.pleasantonhotel.com. Maltese Crow Entertains Locals at Camel Barns By Richard Parks (Benicia Herald, Oct. 18, 2006) SATURDAY -- About 40 Benicians decked out in thirties attire gathered at the Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns for a murder mystery dinner theatre show staged by Gbison House Mystery Performers. The Maltese Crow, a spoof on the plot of the Bay Area pulp novel by Dashiell Hammett, was performed in three acts: one with drinks, the second after the salad, and the thrird between the entree and dessert. Click here to download the full article. Streetlights, Acting Up By Tony Owen (Inside Benicia, 2006) What happens to a state speech and debate champion after high school? What do valedictorians do? Where do opening acts for Jefferson Airplane and The Doors end up? On Broadway, if they follow the path of Benician John Gibson, hanging out on 42nd Street eating 25 cent hotdogs, drinking 10 cent Cokes and sneaking out of fleabag hotels when the cash runs out. "I never did any acting in high school," says Gibson in his smooth dark chocolate voice, "I got the bug, tho, so when the rock band broke up after the lead guitar player got drafted, I sold everything and wound up in New York with $50 in my pocket." Click here to download the full article. Murder Mystery Slays at Liberty Hotel Restaurant By pittsburgca.net (April, 2006) Dining out at the Liberty Hotel Restaurant in Pittsburg doesn’t usually involve murder with the merlot, but just about every other month, the GibsonHouse Mystery Performers take over, and its always “curtains” for one of them. Recently, “Murder at the Liberty Hotel, A Deadly Bingo Night,” was performed, a new mystery written by Serena Gibson-Torres who also acts with the troupe. At these dinners sure to end in the demise of one of the cast, even the first introduction to the character’s name brings a chuckle. As the diners were seated, the bingo caller and host for the evening’s dinner and games, William Ding, (get it… Bill Ding) played by the delightful Tony Santucci, greeted each table and handed out the bingo cards. Once the guests had chosen a person at their table to mark the card, and be in charge to call out “Bingo,” Ding stepped up to the circular cage of marked spheres and began the game in his best ring announcer’s voice, “Lets get ready to Bingo.” But all is not perfect in Bingo land. It seems that the star of the evening’s entertainment, Miss Faye Flift, (Siobhan O’Brien) is not happy. And apparently when stars are not happy, they let the world, and the diners know why. With such a lovely voice, it’s too bad she didn’t get to sing a full song, but as she was sharing her story, we also meet her manager Earl E. Bird, played with flair by Michael Riley. It seems that both are lively characters that could be capable of “rubbing out” someone who gets in their way of having her name in lights. Speaking of characters seemingly capable of grave terminations, soon enters Annie Bodyhome, (Serena Gibson-Torres) sharing her story with the diners, followed by the bell boy, Oliver Sudden, (Steve Anthony). Mr. Sudden seems chipper, and looks dapper in his red jacket and hat, but is described as carrying a lot of baggage. (Get it…bell boy…baggage?) It really is pun heaven, in the most entertaining way. Anthony and Gibson-Torres both have a gift for physical comedy and are great fun to watch. Rounding out the cast is the debonair Mr. Royal Pain, played with charm by Alex Torres. But it seems that not all these characters are here for the bingo. At least one has murder on the mind, much to the audience’s delight. But who gets whacked? Why did they do it, and what are the clues? The actors incorporate both the location and the dinner itself into the story line, making the evening a complete experience personalized for the soon-to-be sleuths at the Liberty Hotel Restaurant. Once the crime is complete, each table gets a chance to guess who did the dastardly deed by way of a card. In case the diners missed a clue while enjoying the salad, or entrée, the poor corpse to-be manages to stagger in and utter one final clue before succumbing to whatever it was that caused their expiration. Now the diners must become the detectives and try to figure out the mystery. The cast kept the audience caught up on the plot, as well as improvising with the diners between courses. All the actors do a wonderful job, and between the fine dining, eye rolling puns and physical comedy, it’s a hoot. Guests get a few minutes to figure out the stumper, and prizes are offered for the top three guesses. It’s a great evening for birthdays, anniversaries and other special celebrations, with the cast and audience joining in for a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” and well wishes for others. The innocent cast members as well as the murderers are always happy to pose for photos as well. You can view upcoming shows at the GibsonHouse Mystery Players website, www.gibsonhouse.com. They perform six times a year at the Liberty Hotel Restaurant, and with a splendid dinner you get a chance to guess what not so macabre “murderer” is passing for innocent. The Liberty Hotel Restaurant is located at 200 E. Third St. For information call 427-1770 after 4 p.m.
Pittsburg Newspaper, September 30, 2005 by Anna Sanders “…Every other month, a night is set aside at the Liberty Hotel for murder of the most entertaining kind, served up along with a dinner to die for. Built in 1922, the brick Victorian-style hotel with its vaulted ceilings, stained-glass-accented windows and antique chandeliers, offers an ideal setting for a theatrical visit to the Wild West. As the audience is seated in the dinner area, Western-clad cast members mosey in, introducing themselves and start doing what they do best—dropping hints…” "…It's all played out between the three-course dinner, and the audience gets into the act by reading clues out loud as well as guessing who did the murderous acts. There are prizes for the team at each table that guess who the culprit is, and by the end of dessert, the mystery is solved…” View the full article (.jpg 420K)
The Stanford Daily, January 7, 2005 by Katherine Li If you have ever thought of taking your date to dinner and then the theatre(for those are you who are ultra-classy), rest assured that there is now an even more chic option that combines both: Mystery dining that involves a murder. As I was ushered into a room at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel in San Mateo, I knew at once that this would not be a typical dinner. Instead of the soft candlelight and large black stage I was expecting, there were several large round tables stationed themselves throughout the brightly lit room. I found myself seated at a circular table with seven women, all old enough to be my mom, and one misplaced youngster whose boyish looks made him look five instead of 13. Immediately, a man with a tall chef’s hat and white apron came cheerfully bounding up to the table and introduced himself as “Chef Fredo.” He would be taking care of the food during our last night aboard our fictitious cruise ship, the S.S. Amore. I eyed him suspiciously. Was he the real chef? Was he going to bring our food? Could I ask him if the salad to be served contained nuts? For a moment, reality and fantasy confounded themselves within my reason and I was quite sure I was a passenger having dinner on a cruise. The performance began... [read full dinner theatre article]
Weekender Magazine, March 2000 "Murder Among The Stars" is on the menu at Gina's Benicia Bay Restaurant every Saturday night. Opening night, Feb. 12th, was greeted with several after-scene applause, and the laughs just kept coming. The Gibson House Mystery Performers, directed by local John Gibson, have found a home in historic Benicia. Alex Torres, as "Taurus," was spellbinding as he informed the guests that the real cast of the "little mystery play" were "stuck in Lodi again". However, the famous "Madame Zodiac", hilariously played by Lisa Book-Williams graciously consents to speak in their absence. Unfortunately, Madame Zodiac dies right before our eyes, and Jonathan Caplan as Security Guard "Horace Cope" tries to solve the crime. Caplan nearly steals the show, as he bungles his way through the clues. Serena Gibson-Torres, as "Gemini", comes off best as the scatterbrained secretary of "Madame Zodiac", while Gary Hinton, as "Dr. Leo Turnbull" is the perfect heckler among the crowd.
Napa Valley Register, July 14, 2000 by Sasha Paulsen It's not on the menu, but Misto Restaurant is serving up an excellent portion of ham on Friday nights. It's the GibsonHouse Players' production of "murder on the Sea of Love," delivered in three-courses as well as three-acts; you might call it a murder to dine for. It is, of course, all in very good taste. The restaurant becomes, for the evening the SS Amore, a disaster-prone Italian honeymoon cruise ship, inhabited by a wild collection of characters, all hamming it up with gusto: a sort of "At Bertram's Hotel," meets "Monty Python." Many of the local thespians in the mystery are veterans of Dreamweavers' productions. For the evening they become Tilly and Al, and Bambi and Joey, passengers on the ill-fated ship. Tilly is an aging dancer, fluttering about in scarves, hampered only by the fact that she has lost her hearing aid in an unfortunate incident when she was trapped on a life raft with six poodles; Al, her husband, is a humorless ex-detective, who is not amused by the onboard antics. Bambi, a bimbo, is honeymooning with Joey, a smooth-talking owner of shoe stores. Joey, however, was once romantically involved with Gina, the stressed-out activities director for the ship. Gina, when she is not sending off fireworks at the lovebirds, is kept busy coping with, covering for (and dallying with) the handsome, amorous, and semi-idiotic Capt. Giovanni ("Don't tell me about problems; I'm the happy guy.") Add to this mix Fredo, a mad cook making ice sculptures of whales, and what can you come up with but murder? All this is served up with a three-course meal, beginning at 8:3- p.m., Fridays, after the closing of the Napa Chef's Market. I dropped by with my two children on a Friday evening and we got our first taste of what was in store when Bambi slithered in the front door on the arm of Joey, and up to our table where she proceeded to gush and dither while Joey preened. My kids, who are 10 and 12, are used to going to all sorts of odd events with me, but as Bambi and Joey strutted off to visit other diners, and Tilly wafted in, trailing scarves, holding an ear trumpet, followed by her glowering Al, Sam, looked at me and murmured, "Now for something completely different, Mom." Five minutes later, Gina had signed them up for the ship's talent show. This show-within-a-show is provided by the diners, at least those who want to make spectacles of themselves. This particular night disclosed an impressive array of hidden talents in the diners: One man recited a passage from "Julius Caesar," and another did imitations of Nixon,. A woman danced, outdoing even Tilly, but then she didn't have to carry an ear trumpet. Sam and Ariel told jokes, and won a prize, a detective's magnifying glass to help solve the mystery. They didn't figure it out, but then neither did anyone else in the restaurant. The closest guess was the person who said the meatloaf did it. Far be it from me to disclose who it is that staggers out of the kitchen, between the main course and dessert, splattered with -- is it blood or is it tomato sauce? As for who did it -- you'll have to see the show. It's a farce, it's inane, and it's rollicking good fun.
Times-Herald, April 25, 2000 by Rachel Raskin-Zrihen There's going to be murder and mayhem on the Napa River all summer, and residents and tourists alike couldn't be happier about it. That's because, in this case, the Play's the thing, as Benicia's GibsonHouse Mystery Performers team up with the California Wine Ship to offer Mystery Dinner Cruises. Beginning May 5, the mystery dinner troupe, which has been performing regularly at Gina's Benicia Bay Restaurant since February, will be taking its act on the road (or on the water as the case may be), offering a dining/theater experience on an authentic paddlewheel river boat cruising along the Napa River. Friday and Saturday evenings during the summer, guests who have bought their $59 tickets, will board the California Wine Ship at the ferry terminal in Vallejo for a two-hour cruise and three-course dinner, where they will try to figure out "Who Done It" from their seats in the ship's 96-seat formal dining room on the top deck. Boarding begins at 6:30 p.m. for a cast-off at 7:30 p.m. "Around 7:30, some interesting characters will begin appearing on the ship, and encouraging people to go into the formal dining room," said GibsonHouse director, John Gibson. "These will be the performers in character. This is Mystery Dinner Theater, so the premise is that a murder is committed -- sometimes two, and the guests have to guess who the culprit is. Solution cards are distributed to the guests, and points are earned for prizes. Guests are not only entertained by a great mystery play, but enjoy a great three-course meal at the same time." Gibson explained that the entire dining area serves as the stage, as the actors perform the fully-scripted, interactive plays, dropping clues within the dialogue. "Guests don't have to travel around the boat looking for clues," Gibson said, "and there are written clues, like newspapers, to be found on the tables, as well." One of Gibson's 100 or so performers from around the Bay Area hit on the idea of the collaboration while taking one of the California Wine Ship's regular cruises back in April. The subject of the Mystery Dinner Cruise was broached with the ship's owner, who contacted Gibson, and the partnership was born. "A lot of thought and groundwork has gone into this," Gibson said, "and this is unique in the area. There is something similar on the Sacramento Delta, but that ship never moves. This is the first one to actually move up and don the Napa River. It's going to be fun. I think it's exciting." The plays performed are all original works, using a wide variety of plots, each "full of intrigue, jealousy, treachery, suspicion, greed, love triangles and suspense," he added, "they're all farcical, fun, interactive and always in good taste." The California Wine ship is docked at the Vallejo Waterfront, next to the Ferry Terminal, 295 mare Island Way in Vallejo. For reservations, call (800) 750-7501.