‘Murder in the Rheinlander’ opens at Baumholder’s Hilltop Theater


The year is 1931. Former Roaring ’20s silent film star Miss Ruby Levine is making her singing debut at the Rheinlander Ballroom. Sammy “Pretty Boy” Bambino hosts the evening with a live radio broadcast, and he has his job cut out for him. The ballroom is full of guests, crooks, undercover G-men and ladies of the evening — and one of them is a murderer!  

The Baumholder Hilltop Theater presents its second annual “Murder in the Rheinlander” with an action-packed evening of entertainment for those who dare to brave flying bullets, escaped convicts and baby snatchers. “Murder in the Rheinlander” is interactive mystery comedy at its best. Means, motives and opportunities abound. So, whodunit? Was it Queenie “Mad Woman” Malone, the state pen matron who’s mean as a snake with secrets to protect? Perhaps Guido Grimaldi is the guilty party, otherwise, why would he need to disguise his identity? Bunny “Babes” Beringer is no innocent despite her sweet sounding name. “Baby Cakes” Rodriguez is no stranger to murder having sent two G-men to their heavenly reward. She only served one year of a triple life sentence. Maybe she thinks she’s untouchable. And, these are by no means the only nefarious possibilities.

“Murder in the Rheinlander” involves the audience members from the moment they arrive until they are asked to solve the crime themselves. Tickets include an evening of entertainment, a gourmet dinner and prizes for the winners. “Murder in the Rheinlander” is based on Boardwalk Melody Murders, a murder a la carte mystery play by Tom Chiodo, and is being performed by the Baumholder Hilltop through special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.

The cast and support staff of 15 include active-duty Soldiers and Department of Defense civilians from both the Kaiserslautern and Baumholder military communities. 

“Last year’s murder mystery dinner theater was so popular that we had to bring it back. But this year, we chose a mystery set in the prohibition era with gangsters and flappers and G-men,” said director Eric Danzeiser. “Who knew murder could be so much fun?”

“Murder in the Rheinlander” opens at the Rheinlander Wednesday and Thursday, with additional shows on June 22, 23 and 24. Intended for mature audiences, the evenings begin with cash bar cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and dinner and a show at 7. 
Get your tickets now for this interactive evening of entertainment at the Rheinlander Club in Baumholder. Tickets are $25 per person. Box office hours are from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at the old theater (next to the swimming pool). Payment must be made at least two days before the reservation date.  

Call 485-7244 or 0151-42304083 for more information.

(Story and photo courtesy of Cheryl Navo)