You’re at a dinner party and the aloof guy in a bespoke suit gives off a sinister vibe. That group of sorority sisters at the next table? Yeah, we’ve seen Spring Breakers. And who knows what the former Ricky Martin impersonator is capable of. And let’s not forget you, dear reader. The way you’re reading this looks all sorts of guilty.
These are the kinds of accusations that fly at Marriage Can Be Murder and in order to crack the case at this interactive dinner mystery show, you’ve got to figure out what’s evidence, what’s paranoia and what’s for laughs. The production celebrates 15 years in Las Vegas this year and it’s been evolving that entire time. It has a new script about every three months, as the show’s creators Eric and Jayne Post re-plot the whole experience, throw in new jokes, cast new parts and tweak other elements of the show—like posting clues and misinformation on other guests on the show’s Facebook page.
“It allows me to stay current,” says Eric Post, who also plays a short-shorts-clad police officer along with his wife, Jayne, who plays a ditzy dinner host. “We can write the show with whatever’s going on with society. And from a performer’s standpoint, it’s awesome because it never gets old.”
But whether the plot (and gags) revolve around the customers of a dating website or a couple that’s been married for 48 years, the premise for guests remains the same. You’re at a dinner party and someone has been shot. It’s up to guests to figure out who did it, with roles dealt out with much glee by Jayne: So, any musicians in the room play the funeral procession’s songs with ridiculous inflatable instruments. A doctor might be tapped to pronounce the victim dead. Law enforcement officials become deputies to Eric’s lieutenant. And so on.
As the night goes on, new evidence comes to light and others get wrapped up in the plot. Guests will have to figure out who’s another guest, who’s an actor and ... whodunnit? That’s where the dynamic changes not just every three months, but every night.
“Even if we didn’t change it, it’s not the same because of who’s at the show and how you interact with them,” says Post. “There are times where my poor actors, who have to stand out so they at least look guilty... there’s no chance. Sometimes, people think ‘Oh, they’ve got to be guilty’ and, well, it’s just another guest!”
By the end of the show, when everyone submits their suspects and motivation, someone will have solved the mystery and get praise, adoration and even a prize. And if you’re truly set on being that person? Well...
“Our show is quite simple. If you can not be distracted by all the funny stuff, the humor, you’ll figure it out,” Post says. “But isn’t that what makes it fun?”
So, there it is: Stop, collaborate and listen. And don’t forget to laugh. It makes you look less guilty, after all.
The D, 6:15 p.m. daily, $54.95-$69.95 VIP, includes dinner. 702.388.2111
