The "Deadly Dinner":

Who can guess the culprit?

The perpetrator is always well disguised at the "Deadly Dinner".

(Bild: zvg/Jürgen Schall)

Andrea Petermann and Heike Montiperle are once again solving new "crimes" at the "Deadly Dinner". The "Krone Vorarlberg" took a look behind the scenes.

When sinister characters meet in a backyard, it usually doesn't bode well. It's a little different with the "Deadly Dinner", where mafia clans come together from May and negotiate who should be at the head of the clan in future. It may sound rather criminal, but fortunately it's all about humorous crime entertainment and culinary delights.

Andrea Petermann and Heike Montiperle have been a great team for almost 20 years.

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

Behind the "Deadly Dinner" is the congenial duo Andrea Petermann and Heike Montiperle and their team of actors. Around 20 years ago, iconic Agatha Christie films served as the inspiration for the witty events. "I've always enjoyed them and my dream was to organize a crime thriller experience of this kind," says Andrea about the beginnings. Fortunately, she had a talented copywriter at hand who also had acting experience: Heike Montiperle was the woman for the creative side of things, while Andrea was responsible for everything organizational. A colorful family of around 15 to 20 actors rounds off the "cast". "We have grown together. The core team has been with us from the very beginning," says Heike, raving about the harmony in the group.

A whole tour bus full of props
Although the "Tödliche Dinner" has been around for many years, the passion for the quirky and colorful productions - the "crime scenes" range from the asylum to the castle tavern - is not diminishing. New plots are constantly being developed and realized with great attention to detail in special locations in the Ländle. "We still have an incredible amount of fun - from choosing costumes and props to designing evidence and shooting videos," enthuses Andrea, whose main job is running an advertising agency. That sounds like a lot of work, even though it's "only" a hobby.

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The creative freedom is also appreciated by Heike, who dedicates herself to the exciting part of the evening as a copywriter. "The theme and the location already dictate a lot. Also the time in which the play is set." Together with her husband - "He's the strategist" - they put the cart before the horse: who kills whom and for what reason? False trails are also laid and intrigues spun, because there always needs to be several suspects, otherwise it would be too boring. "My husband always tells me when something doesn't work," says Heike with a smile.

Improvisation skills and empathy
The audience naturally plays an immensely important role in the "Deadly Dinner", as they actively participate and help to track down the culprit. The dress codes corresponding to the theme of the evening are also enthusiastically accepted. "Without an audience, the story would not be told. Playing along is what makes it so fascinating," report Heike and Andrea. Of course, not every guest wants to be in the spotlight, but there are also real "entertainers" who use the break for their own show. This keeps things exciting and entertaining - even for the team itself. "The special thing for us is that you can bring in a lot of things that aren't in the script. The freedom to improvise is what makes it so appealing." However, the actors also have to be able to interact well with each other. "That's purely a matter of practice. In any case, we understand each other without words."

The new "Deadly Dinner": "The Mafia", from May in Frastanz. All dates and information at: www.toedliches-dinner.com