IMMI HQ Productions & Products

                                        Jan 26 FIVEaa Radio Interview with Vanessa B Baylen and 'Phil McMowmint'
                                        Feb 12 Messenger News (Southern Times) 'Dining on the Fringe' by Petra Starke
                                        Feb 21 The Adelaide Advertiser 'BankSA Support Act Advertisement'
                                        Feb 21 Messenger News (City Messenger) 'Audience Participation'
                                        Feb 22 FIVEaa Radio Interview with Vanessa B Baylen
                                        Feb 26 Don't Eat the Cardboard & Adelaide Now 'REVIEW' by Dennis Coleman [below]
                                        Feb 28 The Adelaide Advertiser & Adelaide Now 'REVIEW' by Antimo Iannella [below]
                                        Feb 28 Adelaide Fix 'Hot Picks'
                                        Mar 1 Rip It Up 'REVIEW' by Jenny Smith [below]
                                        Mar 5 The Independent Weekly 'REVIEW' by Kath Lockett [below]

Feb 26 Don't Eat the Cardboard & Adelaide Now 'REVIEW' by Dennis Coleman
It's a party - a very sociable party, trays laden with scrummy chocolate and drink concoctions from the bar to torment the taste-buds. But is this all a diversion? This social soiree is shaping up with a very prickly underbelly. A murder has just taken place - murder most foul - in the bathroom, with mutterings about an apparently toxic-sapped exotic plant centrepiece now whisked away. We, the 'detective squad' are called in to swirling mass of 'suspect' party goers in various poses of self-righteous outrage, indignation and apparent disbelief. 'Suspects' bags are strategically placed around the rooms for our inspection. Rifling through their contents throws up all manner of wacky objects - various 'medicinal' supplies, diaries full of recriminatory notes about other guests; are they clues or just red herrings? Our enquiries are met at times with laughter and derision, the 'cripple' bursts into tears of so called victimisation, an 'off duty' detective looks strangely unconvincing in her curvy black leather number.. The party ends, no closer to the truth - but for an intrigue filled, performance- based interactive murder mystery, Vanessa B Baylen's "Death By Chocolate" is a winner.

Feb 28 The Adelaide Advertiser & Adelaide New 'REVIEW' by Antimo Iannella
3.5 stars. Now here's your chance to prove all those episodes of CSI you've diligently watched over the years have not been in vain. Death By Chocolate is an interactive murder mystery which places you at a crime scene - a Chocolate Themed Singles Night at the Tin Cat Cafe - with two hours to interrogate 10 suspects, examine clues and uncover the identity of the killer. It's not as easy as it sounds - everyone has a hidden motive and each of the suspects seemingly has something to hide. Creator, director and producer Vanessa B Baylen has devised a clever show that is entertaining - thanks especially to the 10 wonderful performers - while the camaraderie with the other "detectives" makes for a fun experience. But be warned, frustratingly, the murderer isn't revealed until the show finishes its Adelaide Fringe run towards the end of March. However, a wide selection of chocolates provided throughout the night soothes the blow. In short: Delicious

Mar 1 Rip It Up 'REVIEW' by Jenny Smith
What do you get if you mix murder and mastication? A good-natured gathering at Rundle Street funked up Tin Cat Café. Those not already in the know quickly realised they were not in for a passive night of watching the actors do all the work. Our mission: to solve a murder by sifting through clues and interviewing the suspects; a willing and fun bunch of actors who stayed in character throughout the entire ordeal. The actors did their best to aid us wannabe-detectives as we launched in - some more determined than others - through the Tin Cat's crowds, offering us morsels and titbits of clues, red herrings and rich chocolate delicacies. Do this if you're seeking something different from the usual slack-jawed onlookers.

Mar 5 The Independent Weekly 'REVIEW' by Kath Lockett
Fringe plus chocolate plus Tin Cat Café equals a fun night out for anyone seeking something different from stand-up comedy or busking. Ten murder suspects are scattered throughout the café, ready for the audience - as free-ranging detectives - to interrogate and even sift through their bags in order to find out who murdered A.J Oak. Providing a delicious distraction are Tin Cat chef Guy Davies's splendid delicacies (of the chocolate variety!) which provide even more reason to burn up the calories by exercising the grey matter. Developed by Vanessa Baylen, the evening was meticulously planned with notebooks, a communal blackboard for sharing ideas, name tags for mingling with other 'detectives' and an open invitation to eavesdrop. Each suspect did a superb job of not only remaining in character for the entire evening but also making things (for this reviewer at least) as complicated as possible. The answer to the mystery will be revealed online at the end of the Adelaide season, which is rather like having the final three rows of chocolate being taken away - enjoyably frustrating but something to look forward to later.

Dates / Times / Prices

Murder + Chocolate + Interactive!

Participate in uncovering a murderer while dining on delicious chocolate delicacies. 'Death By Chocolate' is a performance-based interactive murder mystery installation. (For more information on the format, please refer to FAQ). With a cast of 10 suspects, the audience aims to solve WhoDunnit. Interview the suspects, sample the chocolates, decode the clues, solve the crime -- it's all up to you!

Take on the role of a final year student at the IMMI HQ School of Detectives. This is your first real life case, and your final major assessment. You will have two hours to complete the "exam"; repeat attendance is available where numbers allow. Details of the crime will be provided on arrival along with a notepad, pen and a selection of chocolate.

Gluten and dairy free options will be accommodated where possible.
Wheelchair friendly.
Adult themes.

Ticket price includes chocolate and show.

With NEW suspects, NEW killer/s, and a LOCAL cast, 'Death By Chocolate' and IMMI HQ are making their Adelaide Fringe debut.

Winner of The Age Melbourne Fringe 2007 Best Special Event Award.

"There is honestly no better way to solve a crime than with a complimentary mousse or hot chocolate in hand." -Buzzcuts

"Involving...easy to get caught up in the whole drama" -The Age.

Audience numbers are strictly limited. Sold out in Melbourne.

What audiences have said about 'Death By Chocolate':
"Fantastic, this was an awesome evening. Well done to all!!!"
"A real mystery! Hard to solve and sooo much fun!"
"You guys rocked my world" "Great concept" "Truly professional"
"A very entertaining evening"
"Awesome show (but nowhere near enough time)"
"It was an absolutely fantastic night! We all enjoyed ourselves so much and it was so incredibly easy to lose ourselves in the scenario!"
"Great fun, very interesting"
"Brilliant show"
"Was heaps of fun. Thanks a lot."

Valentines Day Preview - book via Tin Cat Cafe: 8362 4748
Thursday Feb 14, 9pm (90 minutes) - $24 / $20 (includes chocolate + show)

Main Season - book via Adelaide Fringe: 1300 FRINGE or Buy Online
Thursday Feb 28, 8pm (120min), $24 full / $20 concession (includes chocolate + show)
Saturday Mar 1, 2pm (120min), $24 full / $20 concession (includes chocolate + show)
Saturday Mar 1, 8pm (120min), $24 full / $20 concession (includes chocolate + show)
Thursday Mar 6, 8pm (120min), $24 full / $20 concession (includes chocolate + show)
Saturday Mar 8, 8pm (120min), $24 full / $20 concession (includes chocolate + show)
Thursday Mar 13, 8pm (120min), $24 full / $20 concession (includes chocolate + show)
Friday Mar 14, 8pm (120min), $24 full / $20 concession (includes chocolate + show)
Saturday Mar 15, 2pm (120 min), $30 all tickets (includes chocolate + show)
Sunday Mar 16, 2pm (120 min), $30 all tickets (includes chocolate + show)

Tin Cat Cafe... 107 Rundle Street, Kent Town, Adelaide

SOLD OUT

NEW

Synopsis