Wayward Improv's murder mystery is chaotic comedy gold
All Fall Down at Studio 2201 is an unpredictable Agatha Christie takedown where every night is different. Tickets $14.
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An improvised murder mystery sounds like a recipe for disaster, but Wayward Improvised Theatre pulls it off brilliantly. All Fall Down, playing at Studio 2201 through June 28, feels like Agatha Christie collided with the board game Clue, and every night unfolds completely differently.
The show starts in the hallway, where audience members suggest a gathering reason — opening night's croquet tournament sparked endless jokes about the sport. Once inside, the audience secretly selects a murderer and distributes props that inspire character motives and plot points. Music and lighting cue actors to shifting moods in real time, which the troupe adapts to instantly.
The chemistry between performers is obvious — Jason Summers plays the bumbling detective perfectly, anchoring the world-building around him. Rich Hilborn steals scenes as a booming blowhard, and Patrice Forbes never dropped her character. With only two stools moving across the stage, the production stays lean and sharp.
Opening night drew more than half the theatre at 11 p.m. on a weeknight during a World Cup match — an impressive feat. The first run in October sold out. Tickets are $14 plus service fees online, at the Fringe box office (67 Nicholas St), and at satellite box offices (2nd floor, Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue; and La Nouvelle Scène, 333 King Edward Ave). Five- and ten-show passes are available. Check the Ottawa Fringe Festival website for the full schedule.