Farce Onion: A Spoons Out Mystery
BATS Theatre, The Propeller Stage, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
13/10/2023 - 13/10/2023
Production Details
Created by Ryan Knighton and Stevie Hancox-Monk
“Farce Onion: A Spoons Out Mystery” invites you to an uproarious on-the-spot murder mystery! Join our talented improvisers as they unravel chaos, comedic twists, and leaps of logic, crafting a love letter to this beloved genre. Get ready for an unforgettable night of hilarity and suspense, where the audience gets to do everything from supply alibis to choose who lives and who dies! Come and be a part of the laughter, murder and mystery in this one-of-a-kind whodunit!
Cast via workshop, will be updated here:
8pm, 13 Oct, BATS Theatre
$20-$40
Cast via workshop, will be updated at the link above.
Operated by D’ Woods
Improv , Theatre ,
60 mins
“A testament to the genre that leaves me laughing until my ribs hurt”
Review by Shemaia Dixon 14th Oct 2023
Upon entrance, we can see a single envelope on the ground. Two detectives drink onstage as a keyboard player, Criss Gruber, sets the mood in the corner. Host Ryan Knighton then welcomes us to Farce Onion: A Spoons Out Mystery. As the detectives open the envelope and read the letter, the rest of the performers enter. The performers, cast from a workshop, are, Anna Renzenbrink, Austin Harrison, Dylan Hutton, Emma Maguire, Jennifer O’Sullivan, Jonny Paul, Mark Grimes, Rik Brown, Tara McEntee and Brendon Bennetts.
As is the nature of theatre in Aotearoa, its common to unexpectedly find yourself watching a show starring someone you know. Therefore, it is worth mentioning that Brendon Bennetts happens to be my former script writing teacher from Christchurch.
As the show begins, the audience is asked for a location and a murder weapon. The answers given are hilariously: The Paris Opera, and a hotdog. The audience are then introduced to the characters and select, by round of applause, who the murder victim will be. The chosen victim then reveals he is in fact allergic to hotdogs.
As the death occurs, the lights fail to go out as planned. Undeterred, the performers play into the technical difficulties and ask us to close our eyes instead, leading to an extremely comical display. Operator D’ Woods handles the technical difficulties as best they can. As the show continues, the technical difficulties are continuously used by the performers brilliantly.
One highlight is when Rik Brown’s Opera Maestro reveals he stores Dijon mustard in his conductor’s baton. Another performer mishears baton as butthole, and the Maestro hilariously reveals that is where he keeps his baton. The Maestro is then revealed as the murderer, who force fed the victim a hotdog.
This is a delightful show. Watching the action unfold along with the performers is thoroughly entertaining. While there are lulls in the action, the performers pick it up quickly and carry on perfectly. Creators and directors Ryan Knighton and Stevie Hancox-Monk should be extremely proud.
Farce Onion is a testament to the genre that leaves me laughing until my ribs hurt.
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