Sherlock’s Mystery Dinner Theater presents “A Red Carpet Murder” Fridays and Saturdays starting this weekend and running through Nov. 12. These are interactive performances in which guests have an opportunity to guess which character is the murderer.
Guests who want to test their acting skills can play a small part in the show. Fifteen to 20 audience roles are available at each performance but guests are not required to play a character. It’s perfectly fine to just watch the action.
Audience roles are very simple. Guests are given just a few lines to read and help is available from the show’s main actors.
If you’re “dying” to have a role, make sure you get to the Columbus Marriott Hotel early.
Arrival is suggested for 6:45 p.m. The play will begin at 7 p.m. sharp. Late comers will not be allowed in until after the first act.
Between acts, the dinner courses are served. Wondering what you’ll eat? Visit sherlockscolumbus.com to review each week’s set menu.
Sherlock’s creators Kate and JJ Musgrove encourage guests to just relax and have fun at each performance.
This weekend’s play “A Red Carpet Murder” was written by Adam Archer, a Columbus State University theater graduate and former Springer Opera House employee who is now studying at Chicago’s Second City.
The play stars Cameron Bean and E.J. Cameron. The plot is simple. A young TV sitcom (“How I Met Your Cousin Bertha”) star is going to be awarded a lifetime achievement award. The actors’ peers in Hollywood are puzzled, angered and dismayed. Before the actor, Johnny Hahafmen, gets his award, he’s killed. The audience has to guess who did it.
Bean has been in several Sherlock productions but Cameron is making his debut.
“I think I’m most nervous about the uncertainty with the audience,” Cameron said. He’s getting pointers from Bean.
The two actors will be playing three characters apiece, while audience members will take on 15 roles, including celebrities, members of the media and talk show hosts.
“It’s a glitzy Hollywood show,” JJ Musgrove said. “There are a bunch of celebrities. The audience characters can be played by either men or women.”
Sherlock’s is now in its fourth season has done 10 shows. JJ Musgrove is proud to say that his company has entertained more than 6,000 guests.
“It’s a hobby, but a serious hobby,” he said.
Both actors are excited.
“It’s the most fun I’ve had in a rehearsal process,” Cameron said.
“It’s fun playing opposite E.J., too,” Bean said. “He’s bringing a different type of comedy to this. E.J.’s a funny guy.”
The first act sets up the murder. In the second act, television celebrity “reporters” speculate who killed Hahafmen. The third act, JJ Musgrove said, is the most fun because it’s set up like “CSI: Miami.”
The evening starts at 6:45 p.m. and most guests will likely leave at about 9:30 p.m., JJ Musgrove said.
