Death Comes At The End
Conceived by improvisational theatre troupe, Scriptease, Death Comes At The End is a comedic take on the murder mystery genre that draws its inspiration from the classic whodunit board game, “Cluedo”.
At the start of the evening, the six main actors – Anne Mayer, Kirsty Wigg, Joshua Kapitza, Kendra Pratt, Jarrad Parker & Noah Tavor – are randomly assigned the roles of colourful murder suspects Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs White, Mrs Peacock, Reverend Green & Professor Plum . The audience is then invited to suggest quirky background traits for each character that will be incorporated into the actors’ performance. Then, as with the game, the true perpetrator, their weapon of choice and the scene of the crime are determined by drawing cards.
A series of skits ensue which detail the circumstances leading up to the murder. The audience is invited to pay close attention to the dialogue, lest the characters let slip information as to their whereabouts and such – at several points the play will stop so that a “detective” character can consult with the audience to keep a tally of the evidence accumulated so far.
Depending on which performance you see, the main Scriptease troupe will be augmented with guest appearances by some other improvisational theatre luminary – Eden Trebilco, Alia Syed, Phil Cowie, Catherine Crowley, Jaklene Vulkasinovic and Coby Yolland among them.
Given that each performance of this show will be distinctly different in terms of plot, characterisation, dialogue and casting, it is hard to determine if it is worthy of recommendation based upon only one viewing.
If the opening night performance is anything to go by, Scriptease are a lively and quick-witted troupe that keep the dialogue flowing fast and fierce. They also have a knack for physical comedy and are good at evoking time and place through the use of mime. Which is just as well, a few colour-coded hats, scarves and neckties are the only costumes to speak of and events transpire on a bare stage almost totally devoid of props.
Despite this lack of production frills, it’s a pretty safe bet that fans of the whodunit genre in the mood for a good laugh will get their money’s worth from this Fringe show. A cautious thumbs up from me.
Benjamin Orchard
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