[Review] RED: An Artful Murder – Sight Lines’ Third Successful ‘Crack the Case’ Immersive Theatre Experience

Sight Lines is back with a fresh edition of Crack the Case, and this time, RED: An Artful Murder challenges the audience to solve the murder of a celebrated artist, with three suspects, who are also all artists.

For those unfamiliar with Sight Lines’ Crack the Case series, each show has a standalone storyline, presented in an immersive, interactive mystery theatre format.

After witnessing the thrills of the playful Backstage Betrayal and the dark Mind Hunter, RED presents the right balance between fun and serious, delivering a captivating experience. With a nuanced, interactive setup and strong character dynamics, this edition continues to deliver, establishing Sight Lines as a leader in the immersive theatre space in Singapore.

From the get-go, RED keeps the suspense alive by only revealing the secret location a day before the event.

Stepping into what appeared to be an authentic art gallery, complete with paintings and art installations, the attention to detail delivers a hauntingly surreal experience. It was easy to forget we were stepping into a fabricated space for theatre; it felt like a genuine art exhibit.

The realistic environment draws guests to become part of the story and the actors were ready to play along and improvise accordingly. The plot revolves around a murder that takes place within an art gallery, drawing the audience into an absorbing world of jealousy, ambition, and deception.

The characters of the three main suspects (Arielle Jasmine, Joshua Lim and Fahim Murshed), while crafted based on convenient stereotypes for brevity, were vividly portrayed, each intricately woven into the storyline, making it challenging to pinpoint the potential culprit.

The young cast mingled naturally with the audience, sometimes whispering clues or hinting at suspicions, creating an illusion of genuine social interaction.

Most of the comedic deliveries came from the actor playing the role of the detective, Jon Cancio, as he egged on the audience to interact with the rest of the cast. Jon has a loud, booming voice which fits well for the authoritative nature of the role.

A standout performance came from the young female lead, Arielle Jasmine, who brought life to the role of Ashley Champion, a dizzy, starry-eyed performance artist. Her playful naivety gave a compelling contrast to the darker tones of the mystery, adding depth to the character and the overall atmosphere.

The script for RED is an artful blend of intrigue and realism, carefully crafted to keep the audience guessing until the final reveal. We won’t be revealing any spoilers, but the reveal for RED makes a lot of sense and it would be hard to solve the mystery in its entirety.

If you are looking for an extraordinary night out that offers a departure from the traditional theatre experience, RED: An Artful Murder will be something memorable. Quality is assured, with this being the third Crack the Case by Sight Lines.

Ticketing Details

Dates:
30 October – 1 December 2024
Wednesday – Sunday

Time:
Weekdays: 8pm
Weekends: 2pm, 4.30pm & 8pm

Duration:
Approx 100 minutes

Location:
The private gallery address will be disclosed upon purchase of tickets.

Ticket Price:

VIP Experience $128
Enjoy a glass of Moet & Chandon champagne as you tour the gallery. Meet and greet with the artists and enjoy an additional secret scene only for VIPs. Enjoy the show seated at a private VIP area and receive a take-home memorabilia to remember your murder mystery experience.
*Non-alcoholic beverage option available

Standard Experience $88
A glass of red wine is inclusive in the standard experience.
*Non-alcoholic beverage option available