I’m a huge fan of a murder-mystery. There’s nothing better than a story that draws you deeper into its world with every scene, where the characters all come off as slightly morally ambiguous, and the twist catches you off-guard. A Shot In The Dark, directed by Joseph Hisayasu and Tasman Clark, ticks all of those boxes and adds to the mix a smooth soundtrack as well as clever lighting.
The most enjoyable part of the show was how immersive it was. I didn’t feel like I was sitting in the audience, but like I was an unnoticed observer amid the action. The entire theatre space, not just the stage, was utilised by the actors. The cast also did a stellar job at portraying their respective characters, each eliciting various emotions along the spectrum of love and hate from me toward their characters. Of particular note are Olivia Skelling as Milo, and Ella Paulsen as Lorraine. By the second half of the play, I cared more about the characters and their fates than solving the mystery.
My only note of critique is that, despite the seamless transitions between scenes, the changing of the set was a bit too loud. That aside, this is a classic ‘whodunnit’ that leaves you guessing until the moment where all is revealed—and that credit goes to Hisayasu’s writing as well as the rest of the cast and crew.
This was the first show I’ve watched by Stray Theatre Company, and what an incredible first experience.
“Hisayasu and Clark perfectly complement each other, but it simultaneously feels like they’re on the brink of divorce.”