I don’t think it’s too optimistic to believe that we are seeing a shift in entertainment away from the monopolistic studios and back into the hands of passionate creative minds. Live performances and tours seem to be on the rise as people are looking for a reprieve from the isolation of internet streaming. In September, I was invited to watch a new live-show in my own city of Austin, TX. Murder by Moonlight is a Blood on the Clocktower live play comedy show, features a rotating cast of local comedians and is now a part of the regular line-up at the Fallout Theater downtown on the third Saturday of every month. Their next show is coming up this Saturday, October 17th at 10 PM.
The night I attended, the featured comedians were, Adrienne Brown, Connor MacDonald, Caleb Page, Martha Neil, JR Zambrano, and Kristen Drenning. The game is facilitated by producers Norm Scott and Diego de los Reyes.
Cast in order from left to right: Norm Scott, Adrienne Brown, Connor MacDonald, Caleb Page, Martha Neil, JR Zambrano, Kristen Drenning, Diego de los Reyes
Upon entering I found the performance space transformed by a dark gothic atmosphere set by Producer and Technical Director, Meredith Robinson. “It’s finding that nuance and balance of giving an atmosphere to the experience and just enough dressings to set a tone and enable the cast to be highlighted,” Robinson explained. “They get to be the new imaginative and creative individuals within it.” I was delighted by the use of a makeshift spotlight, a mini ellipsoidal for you fellow light designers, that isolated the subjects when they were defending themselves during the banishment phase.
The roles for each player were already selected and placed in numbered envelopes on chairs before the audience entered. (The players immediately tried to trade envelopes and hilariously had to put them back in the right order.) Behind the chairs the players sat in, the projection screen revealed their roles so the audience was in on the secret. That secret electrified the room. Just the simple experience of knowing something the players don’t, when usually the roles are reversed, had people around me stirring and whispering.
One aspect of play that was missing from the game was the private conversations. Normally, players get a chance to move around and talk to one another in small groups to further question and strategize. The introduction of the intimate stage complicates this part of the game, but also makes the game run a lot faster and meant the show was able to stay within their tight time frame. According to Diego de los Reyes, the team plans to continue to make adjustments to the show. “This was our first time in the venue. So understanding their tech and the stage, the amount of room on the stage and how were set up. It’s just going to continue to evolve. There’s so much that we learned and there’s so much already in the making — it’s really exciting to think about.”
In order from left to right: Adrienne Brown, Caleb Page, JR Zambrano, Kristen Drenning
The personalities and game play styles of the comics complimented each other, creating a well rounded group. One of the more experienced players, Kristen Drenning, tried to get the group to strategize together, but the group was thrown off by evil player, Connor MacDonald, who laid low the entire game and nearly won. This turned into a nail biting back and forth that could have quickly ended the game. Norm Scott, talked about how they carefully cast the show, “We need somebody that is genuinely going to have investment in winning the game, somebody that’s going to be chaotic so you can’t predict their moves, and then we need somebody that’s maybe a little bit more theatrical — who is going to be more dramatic than everyone else.” The cast also showcased the diversity the comedy scene in Austin can offer. You could tell the room was full of fans and friends, whose enthusiasm was contagious. The producers are also excited to see how the show grows as the players in their line ups get more familiar with the game.
By the end of the show, I was on the edge of my seat. It was down to one choice that would decide if the evil team or the good team won. With a hilarious speech and landing on the infallible logic that she ‘always picks the wrong line at H.E.B.’ Adrienne Brown won the game on behalf of the good team. A triumphant ending that I will never forget.
Panda, She/They, has worked in Theatre, live events, and the TTRPG Actual Play space. They started writing reviews in 2024 as they wanted to see in depth reviews like what she knew while working in community theatre. My Patreon is where I post journaling game plays and research notes.