Collegiate Times

Image: 2012-10-23 21:35:05

Patrons of T. Flynn’s Pub won’t be enjoying traditional Irish food and drink tomorrow night — they’ll be fighting for their lives. A murder mystery is coming to town, and it’s up to the residents of Blacksburg to identify the killer before it’s too late. The horror begins at 6 p.m.

For one night only, audience members will be witness to several unprecedented twists and turns. Only 70 tickets will be sold for $30 online and at the door, adding mystery and suspense to the night’s events.

“Killer Cloggers” is a play within a play. The story revolves around a failed writer, whose work is falling apart and whose actors have begun to doubt him.

According to the restaurant’s website, “Actors are quitting at the last minute, other actors are getting tired of his antics and last-minute, substandard replacements are being signed on. Things are getting worse when, in the course of the murder mystery, actual murders begin to take place.”

T. Flynn’s regularly hosts events and club nights, but “Killer Cloggers” promises something extra for its audience. Customers will have the opportunity to speak to the actors directly, asking questions and using clues to identify the culprit. The entire bottom floor of the pub will serve as the scene of the crime.

“We’ve been planning since the second week of August,” said Robert Higgins, general manager of T. Flynn’s. “We actually brought in about nine performers from The New River Valley Stage Company.”

Between murders, diners will get to sample every part of the restaurant’s menu in a comprehensive four-course dinner. T. Flynn’s serves a mix of classic Irish pub fare and American cuisine. The menu includes vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives.

While October inspires many Halloween-themed events like this in the New River Valley area, it is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “Killer Cloggers” is one of the only activities in town that gives residents a chance to participate in both.

“Three dollars from every ticket is going to go to the 'Pretty in Pink' fundraiser," Higgins said. “We’ll have our upstairs open to the public as usual and our regular specials will be going on. It’s something different that students and locals can come in and do on a weeknight.”

Like the pub, many of the downtown businesses in Blacksburg collaborate with “Pretty in Pink” to raise awareness and benefit the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation. VBCF is the only nonprofit organization in Virginia focusing on breast cancer education and elimination, and has collaborated with local businesses for four years.

“We’re providing an interactive experience here in Blacksburg,” Higgins said, “We have a unique chance to showcase our food and service to the public.”

After the tickets sell out, T. Flynn’s will only allow regular guests into the restaurant. Perhaps they will know whether it’s better to be safe than sorry.

A version of this article appeared in the Oct 24 issue of the Collegiate Times.