By David Gardette
A stalwart of the interstate festival circuit, Murder Village – An Improvised Whodunnit returns to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to celebrate its 10th anniversary with the same playful chaos that has sustained it for a decade. Originally debuting in Brisbane in 2016, the show was devised and directed by David Massingham (Impromafia), building on earlier creative groundwork from his mid-2000s project Agatha Holmes.
Set in a fictional 1950s English village, the show introduces a rotating cast of eccentric characters, drawn from a pool of performers affiliated with The Big HOO-HAA, Impro Melbourne, and Impromptunes. The premise is simple but effective: audience members submit key plot elements via a QR code—selecting the victim, murderer, weapon, and a crucial clue—which then form the framework for the entirely improvised 70-minute performance. It’s a unique device that guarantees no two shows are ever the same.
The ensemble leans fully into the absurdity, delivering broad, high-energy characters that range from the wonderfully ridiculous to dramatically over the top. At the centre is DI Owen Gullet (Massingham), the town detective who also narrates the action. He is paired with the more perceptive cleaning lady amateur sleuth Verity Garner (Kathryn Tohill), who also helps steer the narrative. We are introduced to the melodramatic diva actress Edith Parnelle (Sophie Kneebone), the exacting director Gertrude Raleigh (Jenni Townsend), the eccentric botanist Blaine Wainwright (Rik Brown), and the hapless publican Donny Dickson (Ben McCarthy)—each add plenty of colour and improv clout to the show.
As is the nature of improvisation, the action is fast, often frantic, keeping the actors and audience on their toes as you try and keep up with the rapid-fire jokes and twists. The performers’ commitment and quick thinking keep the audience engaged, and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud comedy moments throughout. A subtle but effective keyboard score from Manfred Reed Warm adds atmosphere, while the simple costuming nicely evokes the period setting without overcomplicating things.
Murder Village – An Improvised Whodunit is a night out where you can just sit back and invest in a bit of fun and silliness. This 10th anniversary season is performed at the Arts Centre Members Lounge for the Melbourne Comedy Festival until 19 April.
