OBSERVER: Murder Village
Everyone loves a good murder mystery and this one takes place in Melbourne’s Art Centre Members Lounge – of all places.
As part of the MICF it was Murder Village: An Improvised Whodunnit expertly crafted, said to be no performances ever the same. Spanning some 10 years of impressing and exciting audiences around Australia.
Led by some of our well known and leading improvisors in Jason Geary, Lliam Amor, Rhys Auteri and Amanda Buckley they set the scene for the audience to consider, who will die, who did it?
While in the foyer waiting to be seated, we were asked to scan a QR Code, giving opportunity to review the evening theme and perhaps identify the murderer.
And this is where we were totally engaged throughout the build up to the murder and the investigation.
A quaint English village with just as quaint and somewhat eccentric characters, particularly the Village Mayor, and the lady of the Manor House.
A murder most horrible occurs on the Village Green, close to midnight and local Detective Inspector Owen Gullet played by the show’s Director David Massingham fumbles his way through the investigation.
He is the one constant actor of the rotating ensemble of some 20 skilled improvisors.
With only four other characters, one of whom is murdered, we had a visiting French Detective (in Hercule Poiret style) and a supporting keyboard player, with chilling cords that heightened expectations.
No one really liked each other and after the murder the three suspects were individually questioned giving confusing alibis that left both Detectives pondering.
In true Agatha Christie style the three suspects were assembled and with further challenges, one suspect cracked and admitted to the murder, caused by a small wheel of a penny farthing bicycle.
Being totally unscripted the improvisors were impressive and did not falter in their delivery.
However the venue with its flat floor seating of some 15 rows left many of us with restricted viewing of the actors from chest high. They really deserve a raked auditorium considering their immense talent and extreme body and arm movement.
Until April 19
Members Lounge, Arts Centre Melbourne
comedyfestival.com.au
Review by Graeme McCoubrie

