AUBURN – Mystery for Hire will present its murder mystery dinner theater production of “Politics Can Be Murder” at Lost Valley Lodge Saturday, Oct. 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show is at 7.

The murder mystery takes place at a political debate for a hotly contested Senate seat.

“I’m pleased to present this production especially since it is the first original script that I’ve written with help from my wife, Denise, and daughter, Katie,” said Dan Marois, who has produced more than 350 mystery shows in the last decade.

“The show makes lighthearted fun of political campaigns and politics, in general. We don’t pick on any particular politicians, but audiences will recognize some of the political character types.”

Audience members are urged to take notes as they watch the mystery unfold. When a crime takes place, they become amateur detectives who try to figure out whodunit.

“What we do is pure fun,” said Marois. “It is a great combination of dining out and seeing a show at the same time. We perform the show between the courses of the meal and actors interact with the audience throughout the evening.”

Marois is eager to launch his first murder mystery script. “Mystery for Hire has always used scripts written by playwrights that we know,” said Marois. “After doing murder mystery for more than a decade, it seemed the right time to try to produce a script.”

“Politics Can Be Murder” covers the Senate campaign of incumbent Warren Hardstuff who’s being challenged by Hilton Paris III. The audience is also introduced to Hilary Hardstuff, the senator’s opinionated wife; George Stepitupalot, a political junkie and pollster; and a young lady, Candy, who has political ambitions of her own.

The cast for the show includes mystery show veterans Dan and Denise Marois from Poland, Chuck Waterman from Westbrook, Anne McVeigh from South Portland and Brian Files from Gardiner.

“There are also a few surprises,” said Marois, noting that there is plenty of audience participation.

Marois hopes to incorporate the fun of politics with campaign posters, political buttons, and voting ballots as part of the evening’s décor.

“It will be great to work with Connie King, one of the owners of Lost Valley, once again,” said Marois. He notes that he and his wife met King when they first performed mystery theater at No Tomatoes Restaurant more than 10 years ago.

Tickets for “Politics Can Be Murder” are $34.95 per person, which includes the show, buffet, tax and gratuity. For reservations, people can call 998-2472 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily or make reservations online at www.mysteryforhire.com.