Review: Murder at the Queen's Cabaret
- ThomM
- Feb 10
- 6 min read
It should be Murders, because bodies are dropping at this joint faster than the 1920's stock market.
Immersive Scene Los Angeles 2026 Review
Turns out there really is no such thing as bad publicity. Take Queenie’s Velvet Curtain Theater, where no less than three showgirls have turned up dead in recent weeks. Funny thing, though, business has never been better. Hmm. Seems the lurid headlines about the crimes have only increased patronage. Let’s hope tonight’s show comes without any major incidents….but you probably already guessed how that one goes.
Who stands to benefit most from the burlesque body pileup is the central question of the night at Murder at the Queen’s Cabaret. Could it be Queenie herself, the saucy diva and hostess of the establishment? Victor, the smarmy owner who secretly dreams of turning the place into a movie palace? Ruby Devine, the ambitious headliner who’s already plotting her escape toward a future in “talking pictures”? What about Delilah Midnight, the top hatted, sequin-covered (for a bit anyway) burlesque star who’s recently returned from Europe determined to reclaim her spot as top act at the club? Or maybe long-suffering Dolly, the sweet backstage girl seemingly too shy and innocent for her own good? And that’s before you even start side-eyeing the rest of the staff around the club, all of whom suddenly seem a little too suspicious. Hmm indeed.
The cabaret-murder mystery mashup, currently running at the Counts Den downtown, has all the classic whodunnit elements: a corpse, multiple suspects, ample intrigue, and, naturally, a Fedora-wearing detective who steps out of the shadows to guide the audience through the case. It also has some elements you don’t usually see in a murder mystery: live burlesque, aerial acrobatics, scantily clad performers - on stage and floating and spinning above it - and (small spoiler here) a fireplace that isn’t just a fireplace.
The evening starts out innocently enough. You and sixty to seventy other guests – many decked out in Jazz Age attire - arrive at the Counts Den, now impressively transformed into the fictional Velvet Curtain, where you’re seamlessly transported back to that infamous roaring era of frisky flappers, shiny spats and wanton sex. The evocative lighting, pre-show variety acts, and flowing cocktails set the tone as the main room fills up. As you settle in, cast members mingle with the crowd, dropping little hints, gossip, and even warnings - “keep an eye on that one, if you get my drift” - about the club’s history and colorful characters. Pay attention and you may pick up a few early clues about why LAPD’s homicide division has paid so many recent visits. Or, just sip your cocktail and enjoy the banter; with any luck, no one will need a body bag tonight.
Recent crime scene or not, the show must go on, and Queenie soon takes the stage and welcomes all to her palace of nocturnal pleasure. The cabaret kicks off with sparkle, song, and smiles but soon layers on some noticeable edge as Velvet Curtain's two rival showgirls perform back-to-back routines with plenty of competitive zeal. Their classic burlesque numbers are really underlying stage battles for dominance, but with pasties and real fire included – no extra charge for the heat. Then Queenie and Victor produce a different sort of heat of their own in a private, yet heard very clearly by the audience, mix of threatening words. Soon, it’s time for an apparatus-supported performance piece by Sebastian - nearly in his altogether - spinning in the air…until. Murder!
Offstage murder that is.
So much for a live show. Enter one Jack Malone - sans noirish music - a Sam Spade-style detective who takes over the now crime scene and delivers the audience their marching orders to help figure this nasty business out. Now the real fun begins as the show transitions from immersive cabaret to full-on-follow-along interactive adventure.
Who died, why, and how did it happen - and most importantly, who done... er, did it? For the next half hour plus, guests scour multiple rooms on two floors of the club for clues. You’ll question characters, examine the location where the victim took their last breath, unlock luggage and steamer trunks, rifle through drawers, piece together puzzles, and decipher hidden messages using special tools. Individually and collectively, the audience works to put the right person behind bars. If you get lucky - or do your job well (definitely the former in Immersive Scene Los Angeles’ case) - you might uncover a key piece of evidence to pin on the clue board Malone conveniently keeps onstage. I told you, there’s been a lot of murders at this place.
Once the sleuthing wraps, everyone reconvenes in the main room where a full interrogation by Malone takes place. The clues you discovered – or missed - play an integral part in the final outcome. In the end, this may be the first murder to finally be solved at Velvet Curtain Theater, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be the last. Count on it.
Murder at the Queen’s Cabaret delivers a fun, fully engaging interactive experience. Whether you dive headfirst into the detective work or prefer to hang back a bit and observe, the clever production offers plenty to enjoy. And it’s easy really. Surrounded by people dressed up to play along, and most with a we’re in it together shared sense of purpose, strangers quickly become teammates and fast friends. The story and concept aren’t necessarily groundbreaking, but the entertaining narrative and collective talents and execution by all involved gives the format a fresh spin. The show is simply a cat's pajamas immersive winner.
And it all starts with the cast.
The talented ensemble brings infectious energy, leaning into the 1920’s aesthetic while giving their roles three-dimensional depth and playing their character arcs and storyline agendas with consistent gusto. The acting is sharp, the dance routines exhilarating and the musical numbers solidly performed.
Performance standouts on the night we attended included Ian Heath as the devilish club owner Victor Renshaw; Jaq Quisido as the backstage girl we all root for, Dottie Darling; and Jordan Mitchell - Love as the unflappable gumshoe Jack Malone. As the showgirls, both Vix Versa as Ruby and Tatas Fornow (last "hmm" of the night) as Delilah deliver memorable burlesque routines along with acting chops, too. Rounding out the show- within-a-show cast are aerialist Harlowe and ring specialist Logan Dane.
The always reliable Count’s Den itself is yet another star, seductively reimagined here as the Velvet Curtain Theater, a perfect home for the intriguing story that unfolds inside it.
Director, writer and performer Terra Ace (Queenie), along with her assured performance, ties everything together nicely with well-paced action, a focused narrative and by not allowing the story to veer off course when considering the presence of so many participant players and multiple possible* endings. The early stages of the investigation portion of the play does threaten to get a bit crowded as guests freely roam throughout the venue’s rooms in search of clues, but soon, somehow without any steering, the audience sort of self organizes their efforts to areas that aren’t overly populated. Ultimately, there is just enough space, clues and time built into the production to allow everyone to see and do everything they’ll need to help solve the case.
*According to creator Ace, the killer can change at any given performance, based on which clues the audience uncovers and the overall consensus gathered from the banter of the deputized detectives throughout the investigation. In other words, the crowd might not only solve the crime – they can actually influence it. Nice spin.
A noticeable winning moment early on is the director's clever method of introducing the characters to the crowd. Ace also nicely works in a few other crafty twists that we won’t reveal here, which add to the show’s overall appeal. Not quite as successful is the confusing presence of some music choices from much later in the century inexplicably included into the otherwise faithful 1920’s set production.
pricing is very reasonable for this level of performance,
Guests can choose either a general admission or a VIP ticket, which offers some extra pre-show time with certain members of the cast to learn even more about the drama at the Velvet Curtain. You may even get an extra key assignment from Jack Malone. Keep in mind, though, that even without the VIP treatment (and associated additional cost) you’ll be fully brought up to speed on all important expositional details once the immersive experience begins.
That is, of course, if you can still snag a hard-to-come-by ticket to the currently short run and nearly sold-out cabaret. One additional late-night show has just been added for Valentine’s Day, but those anxious to get in on the investigation beyond then have to hope that the producers at Immersive Art Collective will somehow extend the run, if they are so inclined, or bring the show back soon. There’s certainly plenty here to warrant it.
at The Count's Den
Downtown Los Angeles
One weekend remaining
February 13 and 14
Tickets: $54.00-$102.00
Adults only 21+ show
*According to Ace, the killer can change on any given night, based on which clues the
