Mini review: Murder mystery improv show and a panda

When you enter the show you receive and card: "Please suggest a title for tonight's show. You should also write your NAME. The case of ________ by ____".
That's how yesterday's evening started at The Landsdown when I went to see "Murder she didn't write" by improv group Degrees of error.

An early 20th century detective welcomes the audience. He talks about some of his previous cases. Those are actually made up stories on the go by drawing some of the cards the audience has provided.

I remember the case of... the ring in the pint. A wedding proposal that ended in tragedy...

Hey! That was actually my card. Not so good as the one that was finally drawn to determine the title and inspire the plot of the improvised play: The case of the rampant panda.

Some introductory scenes take place allowing the characters to introduce themselves and give a coloured card, representing themselves, to an audience member. By choosing one of this cards he secretly decides who is going to be the murderer. When the tragedy takes place, zoo's owner mauled by a rampant panda under the influence of sugar, the selected card is shown to the performers and stored in a closed envelope.

The story unfolds, as it takes place, involving a reporter specialized in zoos, old stories of animal related deaths, last wills, deception and even a bit of love (in the form of a medically accurate drawing of a heart). The outcome is a story more logical and structured as expected. The show keeps a good rythm while unveiling the mystery and actively engaging you in trying to guess the murderer's identity. As all good murder mystery stories must do.

They are taking the show to this year edition of Edimburgh Fringe festival. You can still go to one last Bristol preview this Sat 27th. A 2pm matinee at Bierkeller theatre.

Good luck!

Edinburgh Fringe 2013
6:15pm 
12th -25th August 2013 
Sweet Venues (International Hotel, Theatre 1, Grassmarket) Venue 18.