CONSIGLIO'S SERVING UP REVENGE FOR DELICIOUS FUN

Beware, the Syn Family, known as the most dysfunctional family on earth, is on the road again and coming to a restaurant near you.  Consiglio's Restaurant, at 165 Wooster Street, will officially be invaded on Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. and you are invited to the much needed therapy session as they act out all their grievances in "Revenge of the Syn Family."

Murder may well be on the menu as this wild and wacky clan revs up its emotional engines.  "Come meet all the usual suspects as

'Revenge of the Syn Family' brings us together at the announcement party to the upcoming marriage of their daughter, Harriet, one of three siblings.

Rumors abound as to who it might be... and one wrong move in this family usually means disaster," according to master sleuth Chester Hadlyme.

While they get their angst and act together, you will be enjoying a festive three course meal with lots of delicious choices, starting with appetizers like fried calamari, eggplant Napoleon or stuffed mushrooms.  For your main course, consider chicken Amalfi, boneless chicken breast sauteed with sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts, finished in a balsamic reduction sauce over linguine, or Sole Provencal, with olives, capers, plum tomatoes in a lemon white butter sauce over linguine, or perhaps Veal Marsala, veal sauteed with mushrooms and sundried tomatoes finished in a marsala wine sauce.  There are 9 gourmet choices in all.  For desserts, there is a trio of yummy selections, either chocolate mousse cake, Godiva Tiramisi or creamy Italian gelato.

Presiding over the tornado of troubles is the tried and true and trusty head of detectives Chester Hadlyme (an earnest Michael Sayers who is the maestro of mystery writers, having penned over 60 in a quarter of a century) who doubles as your genial master of ceremonies.  He knows something bad always happens when the Syn family gathers and you can bet your broccoli rabe that this time will be no exception.

Sayers has been invading the personal problems of the Syns since he wrote 'Seven Deadly Syns" many moons ago.  He describes them as "Ma and Pa Kettle, with money, who demand sequels. I have the best character actors who excel at improvisation.  They take on a role and become the character.  I let them go and they take over the plot and never look back.  Often on the way home from a performance, we write another mystery in the car."

To solve the mystery and play some fun games, like a couples game "So You Think You Know Someone," or a scavenger hunt or music trivia,  make a reservation ($55) with Consiglio's, a family tradition in fine Italian food for 75 years, by calling 203-865-4489 or online at www.consiglios.com.

How much fun is it to witness the silly shenanigans of a truly crazed clan and know you are not related to any of them.