"I'll be Homicidal for Christmas" by The Mystery Cafe at Sheraton Bloomington

This holiday* season brings us not one but two mystery dinner theater experiences with The Mystery Cafe. The troupe has been around for over 35 years, but I only just "discovered" them last year. As their performance season is just a few months around the holidays, I had to wait a year before seeing them again. But the good news is they have four shows this season at two locations: two holiday shows currently playing, and two more coming up in January. It's a fun immersive experience that goes beyond traditional theater, obliterating the separation between audience and performers, with broad campy comedy (and too many bad puns to count) performed by some of the best comedy/improv folks in town. A few weeks ago I saw their new show A Cruise-mas Carol at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake on the north side of town, and last night I drove across the city to their new south metro location, the Sheraton Bloomington, for the returning show I'll Be Homicidal for Christmas. Set during a taping of a Christmas TV special in the '70s, things go off the rail when someone(s) end up dead. There are just a couple more performances of the Christmas shows left before they start their new shows in January, and they've got a 25% discount for the Sheraton shows running through December 28. It's a fun group outing that's maybe a little less intimidating than theater can sometimes be for the uninitiated.

The event takes place at the downstairs ballroom at the Sheraton, with round tables set up and a stage on one side. But the action takes place all around us and is not confined to the stage. We're told we're the audience of a taping of a Christmas special called An Albee Humphrey Christmas (pun number 1 of 417). Albee (played by Doug Anderson) is a faded Hollywood star trying to make a comeback with the help of producer Marty DuBois (co-writer and understudy Brian Kelly filling in, but you'd never know he didn't perform the show every night), production assistant Frankie (Rita Boersma), and techy Simon (Michael Franssen). In between courses (salad and bread, choice of entree, and dessert) they "film" common variety show scenes, like Christmas songs (with hilarious new words), magic tricks, a ventriloquist act, and comedy sketches. When someone(s) ends up dead, Marty tries to keep going just to get the special in the can. But eventually we're asked to help solve the murder(s), with prizes going to the correct answer, as well as the most creative ones.

you too can be a "super sleuth"
and be photographed with this cast!

Everyone in this cast (which also includes Shanan Custer and Paul Somers in multiple roles, each more ridiculous than the last) is so funny and committed to the tone of the show, staying in character as they help serve the food, clear the dishes, and offer clues to help solve the murder. There's a silly running gag about Frankie not being able to pronounce Marty's last name, Frankie clapping the slate in Albee's face, and Frankie and Marty talking over each other instead of listening to each other (the common thread being the always hilarious Rita). Other highlights include Paul's stupid ventriloquist tricks, Shanan's flustered writer and desperate for attention magician, and Doug's consistent performance as the spoiled and selfish Hollywood star.

When it comes time to solve the crime I'm usually at a loss. I always think, there aren't really any clues and you can just make up a story. But then when I hear who did it and how, it makes sense and I realize there were clues, I just didn't see them! So pay attention to who is where at all times, and who has access to things, etc., and you just might solve the crime and win a prize!

Take a break this holiday season to have a drink (not included in ticket price), eat a nice dinner, be surrounded by a bunch of goofballs telling a silly story, and solve a crime. I'll be Homicidal for Christmas continues through December 28 on the south side, A Cruise-mas Carol plays through January 4 on the north side, with new shows coming to both locations in January (click here for details of all shows).

*Click here for reviews of all of the holiday shows I've seen this year.