Watch this, and get excited.

Why did the scarecrow win an award?

Because he was out-standing in his field.

This comedy segue is just to highlight the biggest major change to proceedings – some of the cast are out in the field. Literally, there’s a bunch of actors running around in a field somewhere, joining in the fun and games by mobile phone camera. With the help of the evergreen Detective Slaughter at HQ, and Constable Butcher at the scene of the crime, you and the other Zoom detectives are trying to figure out why there’s a dead clown in a clearing, and most importantly – whodunnit?!

This is where the ‘Choose Your Own’ bit of the show name comes into play. If you’re of a certain age and from the UK, you might remember the (in-desperate-need-of-reviving) TV show, Treasure Hunt. A team in the studio told Annika Rice to get in a helicopter and fly to places to solve clues. Now you get a chance to do the same, sans helicopter. At certain points a poll appears in the screen, and collectively you vote to decide where Butcher heads next, and what he investigates. It’s awesome, it really gives you a feel of agency, of flexing your little grey cells to steer the investigation.

Like a puppet on a string

This new format is great. Watching the cast have to truly adlib and brave the hideous weather was both testament to their ability to stay in character, and mildly hilarious. While I never believed there was a dead clown in a public space, there’s just something immersive about seeing someone over the shoulder of the constable and telling them to go and talk to them, or taking a first-person view of a chase.

Technology was the biggest problem, with the quality of the video and audio left to the mercy of the mobile networks, but even that added to the authenticity. As soon as the show was over I found myself thinking ‘I wish I know what would have happened if we’d investigated X instead of Y’. Whatever you do though, these clever Play Dead London folks will make sure you know enough to be able to solve the case with the clues and nuggets of evidence that come your way.

Choose Your Own Deadventure is excellent. I’ve enjoyed all of the Play Dead London shows, but this one was my favourite. The chatter in the communal chat channel was new and really funny, watching Butcher running around in the rain was great, and the mystery itself was clever. Once again I headed to the vote with three suspects I was sure could have done it. Go with your gut, guys, is the only advice I can give without spoiling things.

If you like murder mysteries, I urge you to try Choose Your Own Deadventure. You’ll laugh, you’ll commiserate if the weather is bad, and you’ll not have taken part in anything else quite like it. Play Dead London are one of the masters of the Zoom murder mystery, and this latest mystery just serves to cement them in place.

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As is the case with other online mysteries I’ve taken part in, Shake, Rattle and Roasted is played out over Zoom. Buy your ticket, join the event at the time on the email, and don your virtual deerstalker.

Fifties Mystery – Happy Days?

I won’t spoil things for anyone thinking of attending, but for an overview this show is set in 1950s America, and the setting and characters really brought to mind a mix of Happy Days and Grease. A popular member of the school has been murdered (gasp!), the suspects have been gathered, and through the use of very progressive technology for the time, we – the detectives – can interview them.

As I’ve come to expect from Play Dead London now, the world they give you a window into is really nicely realised. The characters feel really developed, and there’s nothing you can ask them during the series of interviews that they won’t be able to answer in character. I really enjoy the gradual reveal of clues and evidence as the evening progresses, and the way the second set of interviews take on a different feel when you’ve uncovered more facts and rumours.

As I said above, I’ve been to three of these events now, and despite still not having got one right (I really must trust my instincts…), I’m really impressed with the range of characters the actors can play. I’ve heard so many accents and seen so many exaggerated archetypes of personalities, I’ve honestly no idea what they’re going to do next, but it’s great fun finding out.

In Closing

I had some technical trouble during the event, and had to switch to another computer. My problem nothing to do with the event, but even when I kept dropping out and having to rejoin, someone from the team was on-hand to help, get me back into my interview room, and do the whole thing in character. It’s little touches like this which really highlight the professionalism this company has added to this enforced change of direction for their delivery.

I had a great evening in the company of a welcoming, friendly, funny cast, and had a great time interacting with my fellow detectives. If you’re looking for something different to do one evening, or want to add some variety to your bubbled evenings, I couldn’t recommend Shake, Rattle and Roasted enough. Or any of Play Dead London’s shows to be honest, I know they’re revisiting some of the older ones again soon, so there’s no better time to grab a notepad and pen, a glass of your favourite thinking juice, and get your mystery on!

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