Las Vegas is known for the glitz and glamor of world-famous musical acts, elaborate choreography and special effects.
But Eric and Jayne Post co-created and direct the longest-running dinner theater show in town, “Marriage Can Be Murder,”which they say has lasted 15 years because it lacks such spectacle. The couple say their focus on spontaneous fun is what has kept the show going for so long.
The couple's first foray into the murder-mystery genre was hosting murder mystery weekends in California.
They began adapting the scripts to add humor and eventually started writing their own stories. They also wrote and performed in Utah before moving to Las Vegas.
Over the 15 years it has been running, "Marriage Can Be Murder" has played at the Showboat Casino (now Castaways), former off-Strip restaurant The Cracked Egg and the 4 Queens on Fremont Street. The Posts now direct and perform their show at another Fremont fixture, The D Casino.
Audience members play a huge role in this interactive program. While many Las Vegas shows disallow photography or use of cell phones, "Marriage Can Be Murder" encourages the behavior. Social media are one component of audience participation. Guest are invited to post pictures and comments live on Facebook during the show.
"We scroll clues throughout," Jayne says.
"It's fun," Eric says. "They get a call and... as the cop, I get to go over and ask, 'Who're you talking to?'"
Along with other cast members, Eric and Jayne are both performers in the show - Eric as Lieutenant Post and Jayne as hostess D.D.
The plot of the show changes every three months. On many occasions, guest responses to the story become an integrated part of the performance. Cast members are planted in the audience, but they're frequently upstaged by guests. Every performance ends with awarding "Best Supporting Actor/Actress in a Non-Supporting Role" to the most animated audience member.
"Marriage Can Be Murder" runs seven nights a week at The D Casino on Las Vegas's Fremont Street.
Guests:
Eric Post, co-creator, "Marriage Can Be Murder"
Jayne Post, co-creator, "Marriage Can Be Murder"
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