Who Dunnit? The Big Shot

The Actors’ Hub presented a series of interactive Who Dunnit events as part of its Naughty Nights at Nine series for Fringe World. Each Who Dunnit was set in a different decade, and the final one, The Big Shot, was set in a New York Speakeasy in the 1920s.

Covid restrictions meant that The Big Shot was a little more static than originally intended but audience members were still split into two groups - each receiving a slightly different perspective, before being re-united to solve the mystery. 

We met big shot gangster, gambler and speakeasy owner Charlie Cheung (played with expertise and sleazy charm by Carlin Monteiro) and a selection of characters who had very good motives to kill him. When he was discovered murdered, the audience needed to decide which of the suspicious characters had done the deed.

Chloe Gaskell was seemingly sweet as Charlie Cheung’s southern belle wife - having a secret affair. Andrew Dunstan, in his second show that evening, was excellent as the “very nice” film director, sleeping with Charlie’s wife. Stephanie Bedford was lovely as Billie Jitterbug, who attracted suspicion with her great ambition. Christian Tomaszewski seemed an obvious suspect, strong as former boxer turned barkeeper, with lot of beef with his boss. Jared Stephenson’s believable broker Benjamin Bigsby Breuth owed Charlie big money and seemed a likely culprit, while Kyle J. Kash’s nicely portrayed, heavy drinking accountant was a popular suspect.

Charlie’s Father Soi Wing Cheung (also played by Carlin Monteiro) led the questioning from the audience, where the performers’ improvisation really came to the fore. Funny and fresh, the audience (and I suspect the cast) were clearly having a good time.

An interesting and different night of entertainment.

Kimberley Shaw

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