The Deafening Case of the Mountainside Inn

Character Assignments 1.Homer Dumpling – Rhys Williams 2.Angora Smart – Sara Rabenold 3.Richmond Smart – 4.Jimmy Smart – Ben Shimer 5.Zargimoff Fantuzi – Ian Zakos 6.Helen Dearing – 7.Rick Stranger – 8.Burr D. Wacher – 9.Zelma Deal – Need 3 boys and 2 girls!

Chief Investigator’s Briefing It is 5:27 pm. Approximately 24 hours ago, guests at the Creekey Inn – a large old mansion on the side of Shadow Mountain – heard a noise they could not identify. It is described as a “low rumble” followed by a “bone-chilling blast of sound” that echoed through the entire inn, vibrating the walls and floors. More than one guest said it seemed as if “the inn was screaming.” Since it was first heard, this noise has sounded between six and eight times – depending on which guest you ask. Any time of the year, it can snow on the mountain and yesterday was no exception. The inn and its access road are now buried under a freak snowstorm that passed through the area. The guests cannot leave for fear of being trapped in the snow. This morning, the owner, Homer Dumpling, called the Shadowville police. Two officers were sent by snowmobile to the Creekey Inn and heard the noise themselves. The guests are desperate for us to identify what the noise if before nightfall. Your job is to find the source of the noise and to figure out what is happening.

One family is staying at the inn. The husband, Richmond Smart, is a successful business man. His wife, Angora Smart, spends her time with environmental causes. Their son, Jimmy Smart, is a teenager. The Smarts come every year. Jimmy likes to play pranks in town, and is well known to the police. Helen Dearing is a world-famous test pilot who also comes every year. She’s broken the airspeed record twice in her career. Zelma Deal buys and sells property. She’s eager to purchase the Creekey Inn and isn’t sure if she’ll remodel it or demolish it. This is her first stay at the inn. Rick Stranger is a poet who makes his living chopping trees into firewood. He first came to the inn last year. Burr D. Wacher is a longtime resident of the inn – and the only one who stays year round. Zargimoff Fantuzi is a foreign researcher doing a study on what scares people in this area. This is his first time at the Creekey Inn.

Investigation Rules Nine of you are suspects. The rest are investigators, but everyone’s trying to solve the case. No one knows what the noise is – not even the person who is “guilty.” Everyone may question each suspect. You’ll want to ask these questions and take notes: -Who are you? -What does the noise sound like to you? -What were you doing last night? -Did you see anything suspicious? After you’ve finished asking these questions, you’ll want to ask follow-up questions to find out more about facts you may have uncovered. (5 minutes) The suspects will answer the questions in character. This means that some of them might now be telling the ENTIRE truth or could even by lying!

If they are asked a question to which they don’t have an answer, they will say “I don’t know.” After the investigation, your team will use your notes and the evidence included in your packet to solve the mystery by answering these four questions: -Where is the noise coming from and what is it? -Who is responsible for the noise? -Why did he or she do what was done? -How did he or she do it? The questioning will continue until “time” is called. At that point, all questioning must stop and answer sheets MUST be completed. The person in charge will read the questions to each person one at a time. The answers must be read exactly as they were written down. Those who come closest to the correct solution become Super Sleuths! You will also win an appropriate prize!

Zelma Deal Seen whispering with Jimmy Smart, perhaps hatching another plot to drive guests away from the Creekey, so she can buy the property and destroy the inn.

Zargimoff Fantuzi Doing a study for his University on what scares people here. A prime suspect, obviously. The inn guests have been scared out of their minds!!!

Helen Dearing Suspected by some for her constant reading, she has an axe to grind with Richmond Smart. Hmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmm mmmm……………..

Richmond Smart Will do anything to make a buck, including dressing animals up like people—as Zelma Deal’s business partner, he has an interest in scaring away the guests.

Angora Smart Bored at the inn and protesting her husband’s zoo exhibit, in which a male lion is dressed in a business suit and other human clothes.

Rick Stranger Seen playing with the thermostat, walking a giant dog, and stealing steaks from the inn freezer. Strange!!!!

Homer Dumpling Says he can’t hear anything, the owner of the inn has, in the past, pulled publicity stunts to gain people’s attention.

Jimmy Smart A troublemaker, known to be associating with Fantuzi and Deal. Watch out for this wild, young prankster!!!!

Burr D. Wacher Seems suspicious to everyone who sees him spying around the inn with her binoculars always watching everyone!! Hmmmmmm……

Requirements:  Must be hard worker with positive attitude  Must not mind memorizing lines  Must commit to daily practice of lines at home  Must commit to two weekly practice sessions during WIN time for the next 3-4 weeks.  Must be willing to dress up and ham it up for others at our presentation to your class

Character Assignments 1.Homer Dumpling – Rhys Williams 2.Angora Smart – Sara Rabenold 3.Richmond Smart – 4.Jimmy Smart – Ben Shimer 5.Zargimoff Fantuzi – Ian Zakos 6.Helen Dearing – 7.Rick Stranger – 8.Burr D. Wacher – 9.Zelma Deal – Need 3 boys and 2 girls!