” Clued In:An Invitation to Die For”

***  Everyone loves a murder mystery! Everyone loves “improv” comedy! Now you can get your fill of funny bits in the 90 minute show taking place at Chicago’s landmark building for comedy, Second City , with “Clued In: An Invitation To Die For”, being presented by High Stakes Productions, a Chicago based improv company that is performing on the UP Comedy Club stage at Second City ( Piper’s Alley, third floor).

Everyone knows that Chicago is truly the “home” of “Improv” and Second City is the key to what the world has learned to love. They were where it all started over 50 years ago and the training ground for many of the talented comics we see on SNL and other shows. Sharing their stages with other “Improv” groups is just another way of growing their reputation as the best of the best when it comes to this form of theater.

Now, let me get to the new show. There are six performers, assorted in shapes and looks. They come out and sort of tell us that there will be a murder during the show and it must be solved. The main topic for the story is one that is tossed to the performers by the audience. Tonight it was “The Olympics”, so all of our performers became athletes of some type and for the next 35 minutes, each of them spoke about their “sport” and worked on their skills, telling us about their pasts and lives. Every time a bell was rung, the performers changed gears and often stories. Our narrator, per se was Bri Fitzpatrick, an Englishwomen who is with baby ( not sure if the character or the actress, but they played into that).

At one point during this, there is a humorous urine test taken by all of the “athletes” and at the 35 minute mark, A MURDER!!!!

The rest of the show is solving the murder. Who is the culprit? What is the motive? How many times will the performers ring those damn bells, changing the course of the story? I will tell you that there is a lot of laughter and plenty of oohs and aahs and a fun evening for sure. If you need a break from the world happenings of the day ( and let’s face it, we all do) this is the place. Don’t forget, Second City is known for their bar and bar food, so you can enjoy a drink and nibble with your murder mystery.

This is a rotating ensemble with different performers on different evenings. Tonight, in addition to the powerful Bri Fitzpatrick, we had the hysterical Kristen Aviles,, the outstanding Cynthia Bangert,, Alonso Ramirez ( who ended up playing his brother as well as the “victim” and did a scene playing both characters, alone), James Dugan and the detctive who solved the case, played to perfection by Bruce Phillips.

This is a limited run!

Thursday October 17th and 31st

Sunday, October 27th at 4 p.m.

The UP Comedy Club is located at 30 West North Avenue- 3rd floor!

For tickets call 312-337-3992 or visit www.secondcity.com

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at ” Clued In: An Invitation To Die For”.