Murder in La La Land

(Photo: Al Foote III)

By Fern Siegel (Posted July 15, 2024)

Hollywood in its Golden Age was a seductive, glamorous town. But behind the mask lurks decadence, destruction and, inevitably, murder. The latest scandal, “Murder in La La Land,” an interactive theatrical experience, lets audiences grill the actors in the hopes of uncovering a killer.

Now at Brooklyn Haus, a new cultural center in Williamsburg, the production utilizes the entire space to engage viewers. Directed by Carlo D’Amore, and written by D’Amore, Sarah Sutliff and Phoebe Dunn, “Murder in La La Land” posits a classic showbiz mystery.

Summit Pictures is shooting “Death of A Street Car” when the body of Sebastian Black, the assistant screenwriter, is found dead. The juicy murder could destroy the studio — so before the press turns the ordeal into a tabloid nightmare, the case has to be solved.

Rather than work as individuals, the lively show breaks audiences into three groups: catering, security and production assistants. All have one job — to uncover a murderer. They receive five pages of clues, such as an article from Vanity Fair extolling Black’s three-picture deal. Between professional jealousy, affairs with starlets and studio machinations, there is no loss of suspects. The goal is to interrogate the cast to determine what’s behind their friendly façade. That means taking a deep dive into motives and opportunity.

A “fixer” takes the audience from room to room; it has 10 minutes to grill each suspect. As more clues are revealed, the requisite twists and turns are thrown into the mix.

The ensemble works well together. Because they can’t anticipate every question, they have to improvise, which is part of the fun. Murder in La La Land is playful, and the actors are adept at fielding inquiries. The whodunnit isn’t obvious, but the tricky case is solvable. And having a group collaborate is a bonus.

The show is the latest production of Live in Theater, which specializes in immersive theater experiences — scavenger hunts to mysteries to sabotaged space missions. Murder in La La Land, its foray into Tinseltown, is entertaining and engaging.