The Ridiculously Curious Case of the Murder Mystery Dinner Detective Company Murders

This is a farcical dinner party VERY loosely based on Agatha Christie’s ABC Murders played for more comedy improvised engagement, as much as It is a whodunit that needs solving.

Setting: The palatial estate of Humphrey Higginbottomin. A group of old friends are gathered for a reunion weekend, with a murder mystery dinner party as the centerpiece. (With some fun character improvisation, we will turn your offices, restaurant, Home or any venue into the lap of luxury).

Suggested Character List (varies based on number of actors engaged, or just engage pur detective and we can turn some or every guest into a potential suspect)

Humphrey Higginbottom: A pompous, over-the-top actor with a knack for the dramatic. He plays the murder victim at the start.
Beatrice Bellington (The Socialite): Humphrey Higginbottom’s glamorous and enigmatic ex-wife.
Charles Christiansen (The Critic): A scathing critic with a grudge against Humphrey Higginbottom.
Diana Davenport (The Doctor): A renowned cardiologist rumored to have had a financial disagreement with Humphrey Higginbottom.
Edgar Evans (The Lawyer): Humphrey Higginbottom’s long-time lawyer, known for his discretion, is now writing a tell all novel.
Fiona Fairchild (The Heiress): Humphrey Higginbottom’s much younger fiancée, heiress to a cosmetics fortune.

The plot of the murder mystery follows the eccentric Higginbottom, playing a detective at his own murder mystery dinner party. All the guests are suspects OR have to interrogate our actors playing the suspects.

Early on in the evening, towards the end of the cocktail hour, it’s a rather cheesy affair until the lights flicker, Humphrey Higginbottom drops dead.

Up pops Constable Perkins (The Bumbling Officer, same actor): A well-meaning but rather incompetent local police officer called to the scene. Constable Perkins starts to lead investigation into the murder of murder mystery enthusiast, Humphrey Higginbottom. But as Constable Perkins invites all to sit for dinner,lights flicker, a scream, a gun shot is heard, Constable Perkins drops dead.

Up pops Gregory Grant, a Chief of Police. “I will now solve the murder.” But seconds later lights flicker, a scream, actor says “NOT AGAIN”… drops dead stabbed with a bloody prop knife.

Up pops Hemlock Periwinkle, the world’s greatest detective to finally solve the case.

Throughout Dinner and dessert accusations are made, the entire crowd is deputized And engaged to solve the case. Finally, the Solutions are shared a a winner is declared.

A division of Improv Theater LLC

The New York Improv Theater is a one stop edutainment center for corporate team building, office / holiday parties and more. Our comedy shows and workshops deliver high impact results. Clients include Google, Mercedes Benz, META /Facebook, TikTok, JP Morgan Chase, Accenture, Morgan Stanley, Twitter, Roblox, Rimowa, EI Digital, Accenture, Datadog HQ, Milbank, BING/Microsoft, Band of America – Merrill Lynch, Home Depot, Ernst & Young, Johnson & Johnson, Louis Vuitton, Coach, UBS, BDO, AMEX, Master Card, Macy’s, 360i, IBM, GM, Kraft, UNILEAVER, HBO, Prudential, Convene, Conference Board and many more… (NYC DOE VENDORS)

COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

Providing College / University campus activities at Harvard, Syracuse, Seton Hall, Princeton, Georgetown, Vaughn, Molloy, Montclair State, Bloomberg College, High Point, Williams College, Lynchburg College, Southern New Hampshire University, Ferris State, Mount Isa, Misericordia, Sacred Heart, Hastings, Pace, Vaughn, College Misericordia, University of Vermont, Stone Hill, Yeshiva, Columbia, NYU, Hofstra, Cooper Union, John Jay, Fordham, Sacred Heart, Seton Hall, and more.

Touring Nationwide

Additionally, 1000s of public and private events at The Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, Wolf Trap, The Argyle Theater, Emelin Theater, Gerold Opera House, 72nd Street Pier, Cherry Point Marine Base, Disney Resorts, Ohio National Guard, Connecticut DCF, First Nights Winchester VA, Binghamton First Night, Haddonfield First Night, Chateau Briand, Babylon Carriage House, retirement homes, numerous libraries, YMCA, JCC, Parks and Recreation, 1000s of k12 schools and summer camps in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska.Artistic Director, Walt Frasier has 25+ years of professional credits in comedy, Theater and music. He got his big break in TV performing comedy sketches on MTV’s Stankervision, Late Nite with David Letterman, TruTV’s Friends of the People, and most recently on HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay. As an actor, Frasier has appeared on NBC’s Blacklist, CBS’s Blue Bloods, USA’s Royal Pains (Filmed in Puerto Rico), Netflix’s Lilyhammer (filmed in Norway) and NICK’s Naked Brothers Band. In addition to 1000s of live performances around the world, Frasier has also appeared in numerous commercials, industrials, webisodes and reality TV shows. Arthur Avenue regulars may also recognize Walter, if you add a white beard and red suit, as he has been official Little Italy Santa for the past 15 years.

Artistic Director Walt Frasier

With over 30 years of experience in theater, comedy, and television, Walt Frasier is the Artistic Director of Improv Theater LLC, a leading edutainment center known for its high-impact comedy shows and workshops. His extensive career includes performing comedy sketches on MTV’s Stankervision, Late Nite with David Letterman, TruTV’s Friends of the People, and HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay. As an actor, Walt has appeared on NBC’s Blacklist, CBS’s Blue Bloods, USA’s Royal Pains, Netflix’s Lilyhammer, and NICK’s Naked Brothers Band, in addition to numerous commercials, industrials, and live performances worldwide.