Murder She Invented
'Awesome' - A Joy Swift Original Murder Weekend Guest Review by Dr Terror
I recently sat at the bar of Swift, the Soho cocktail lounge, and asked for an Irish coffee.
'The barman at the Savoy tells me you do the finest in London,' I said. Mine host looked at me aghast. 'London?' he spluttered. 'The WORLD!'
So it's perhaps no surprise that the cocktail bar (formerly Lab, for the seasoned drunks among you) shares its name with the inventor of the interactive murder mystery, the remarkable Joy Swift. Back in 1981 (the mathematically astute among you will have twigged that her next plot will celebrate her 45th anniversary in style), she thought of a way of filling empty rooms during the weekends for the hotel group she was working for at the time: murder mystery events.
Her idea was enthusiastically adopted (stolen) by a waiting world. You can't copyright or trademark an idea, alas, but at least they bunged her an MBE for it, like they did for her heroes, the Beatles.
She has been doing them ever since (just Google 'Joy Swift Murder' for dates and prices) and her claim that these are the 'original and best' of this phenomenon is no idle boast. It is a statement of fact.
This particular plot, focused on the teachers that inspired you when you were a kid (thank you, Nicky, Neville, Barry and - weirdly! - Joy. A totally different Joy) has been the best of the best and, believe me, I've done DOZENS of these.
Her semi-professional actors are better than many full-time ones (much like many semi-professional footballers) and stay in character the whole time, never breaking the 'fourth wall'. It is the most complete immersive theatrical experience out of everything I have ever reviewed (The Magician's Table, Moulin Rouge, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Magic Mike...), a total - forgive me! - joy from start to finish.
Needless to say, I can't give you too many plot spoilers but [REDACTED] in [REDACTED] with a [REDACTED]. Not 'alf!
(Doctor Terror's body was found floating off the Cornish coast, the Seven Daggers of Megiddo deep in his chest and a piece of cheese in his mouth. Lab tests should confirm whether it was stilton or Dorset Blue Vinny.)