‘The Speakeasy Murder & Other Acts of Prohibition’ | Dinner theater review
Visiting “The Speakeasy Murder & Other Acts of Prohibition,” one of Orlando’s only permanent murder mystery dinner theater experiences.
Attractions Magazine was recently invited to experience “The Speakeasy Murder & Other Acts of Prohibition,” an interactive murder mystery dinner show in Orlando located at the Teatro Martini Theater. With the recent closure of Sleuth’s Mystery Dinner Show, this production now stands as one of Orlando’s only permanent murder mystery dinner theater experiences. During our visit, the show was presented with a Christmas-themed overlay featuring jazzy holiday music along with plenty of seasonal jokes and references.
Setting the scene: Pre-show and atmosphere
The evening begins in the Jewel Lounge, where guests can mingle and play casino games before entering the theater through a hidden bookcase door. Inside the Teatro Martini Theater, the suspects and potential victims circulate from table to table, introducing themselves and establishing the tone before the story officially begins.
The show is a classic whodunnit loosely inspired by the Prohibition era of the 1920s. The word “loosely” is key here. References to Dean Martin, Aretha Franklin, and even Taylor Swift make it clear that historical accuracy takes a back seat to comedy and audience engagement. The characters lean into familiar murder mystery archetypes such as the mob boss, aging diva, and bubbly ingénue.
The murder mystery and audience participation
It comes as no surprise that someone is murdered during the show. Act One largely consists of each character revealing their motive and conveniently acquiring a firearm, all while guests enjoy a three course prix fixe dinner and wait for the inevitable crime. After intermission, Act Two shifts into investigation mode with interrogations, clue gathering, and audience participation before guests cast their final vote on the killer.
While the structure works, we found ourselves wishing for more interaction. During the pre-show and intermission, guests are given play money to bribe the cast for information. In practice, the most popular suspects tended to draw crowds, making meaningful exchanges difficult. The formal interrogation segment near the end also feels rushed, with each character answering only a question or two before the final vote. Whether the show was running long or simply over capacity, the pacing here could have benefited from more breathing room.
Performances, humor, and pacing
Despite some pacing issues, the evening was genuinely fun. The cast leaned into the silliness, and the musical numbers were a pleasant surprise. Standout performances came from Kristie Geng as Rose and Alexis Turner as Carmen, both of whom impressed with strong vocals and entertaining solo and duet moments.
Some jokes did not quite land, and trimming a few weaker bits could help tighten the overall flow. While red herrings are part of any murder mystery dinner show, one riddle explicitly presented as a clue remained confusing even after the killer was revealed, slightly undercutting the mystery element.
Food, content, and value
Dinner was better than expected, with a solid selection of main courses and satisfying portion sizes. Dessert was the weakest element, particularly the small serving, although the holiday themed fruitcake bite was a nice seasonal touch.
The show is rated PG-13. Aside from some mild crude language and the murder itself, there is little that would be inappropriate for families, though younger guests may miss much of the humor.
At nearly $90 for a standard ticket, this Orlando dinner theater experience is not inexpensive. We strongly recommend looking for discounts or third-party ticket deals. Guests will likely enjoy the evening more if they focus on the performances, music, and immersive atmosphere rather than stressing over solving the mystery, since nearly every character has motive and opportunity.
Final verdict
With dinner theater options becoming increasingly rare, “The Speakeasy Murder & Other Acts of Prohibition” fills an important niche in Orlando’s live entertainment lineup. Costumes and roleplay are optional but highly encouraged, as leaning into the theme adds significantly to the fun. For amateur detectives looking for a lively evening of singing, intrigue, and good food, this Prohibition-era murder mystery delivers a night out that is the bee’s knees, even if you don’t quite crack the case.
“The Speakeasy Murder & Other Acts of Prohibition” is presented weekly Thursday through Sunday with additional shows seasonally. The Christmas version of the show that we saw runs through Dec. 30. For tickets or more information, visit SpeakeasyMurder.com.
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