Words: Berlyn Lee
Image: Matt Crockett

3 Stars

Welcome detective, you’ve been selected to help solve a murder! Can you figure out whodunit
when even the cast doesn’t know who the killer is?

CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation begins like most improv shows; the cast asks the audience for suggestions as a jumping off point. CSI, unlike other improv shows, uses these suggestions to create a murder scene and possible suspects. The audience takes the role of detective alongside a “narrator” (played by one of the cast as a fellow detective) who keeps time, leads the storyline, and makes sure everything gets tied up in a nice bow by the end.

The cast has to hit specific plot points you might see in a murder investigation television series. Three clues are named, a witness is interviewed, the other suspects are introduced, then cross examined, a killer is named, and then the guilty party gives their “big speech” about why they committed the crime.

The cross examination was quite fun, the audience was able to ask each suspect questions about the crime, helping to fill in any plot holes left about the murder.

The killer is named as fairly as possible… via democratic vote. The final speech was really well executed, especially when all the clues are insane, the suspects are bizarre, and you have to come up with it on the fly!

Loads of fun for the whole family.

CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation
Underbelly, Bristo Square – Ermintrude
15:10
Aug 2-25