Posted on: Tuesday, February 15, 2005

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Too many people want to be the bad guy, but that's a good thing.

It's an indication of the excitement that's building for "CSI" night at Honolulu Community College.

Two years ago, the first time HCC took on the event, 250 people competed to solve the mystery of "Who Drowned Oscar Medeiros?"

Last year, more than 500 people signed up to figure out "Who Squashed Willoughby Smith?"

This year, it's "Murder at the HCC Ballet."

The program evolved from the "Sherlock Holmes" nights police major and homicide unit supervisor Gary Dias put on for the Honolulu Police Department in the 1990s. The past few Sherlock Holmes nights drew thousands of participants and were held at the Blaisdell.

After Dias retired from HPD, HCC administration of justice professor Robert Vericker talked him into continuing the program at the college. "I told him, 'I know people are calling you about this and I can pay you absolutely nothing.' He said he'd love to do it."

Students from HCC will portray the characters in the murder mystery, which is sponsored by the Administration of Justice Club. Forensic science students and professors from Chaminade University also will be on hand to serve as evidence experts. Dance students from Le Jardin also are part of the dramatization of the crime.

Teams of 3 to 5 people (including kids) can sign up to solve the crime. Winners get prizes and bragging rights. Before the crime-solving starts, there are "cheap eats" available for purchase in the HCC cafeteria.

There's something about playing detective that people just love. In the past, Dias has fielded phone calls for months after the events from people who are still turning the crime over in their heads. "They'll say, 'How could the killer be Stacy?' "

Some couples make it a special date night. Office mates have dressed up as famous detectives for the event. HCC students clamor to be in the dramatic performance of the crime.

Dias, an author and college lecturer, has worked to keep the event "family friendly" with no onstage violence and no bad language. Still, he points out, "It's a murder mystery, so how family-oriented can you get?"

Speaking of mysteries, is there a actually an HCC ballet? Vericker quips, "Yeah, I think the department is somewhere behind welding and sheet metal."

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8174 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.