The Halloway Overture

File #SF-2023-0922 · San Francisco, California

A celebrated soprano collapses mid-aria on opening night. Two thousand people watched her die — which means everyone has an alibi.

Difficulty: HARD · Play time: 30–40 MIN · 1–2 players, in the browser.

The suspects

• Celeste Aldous, 31 — Understudy (Lead Soprano). Motive: Inherits the lead role + full season if Halloway can't perform
• Margot Reyes, 47 — Head of Makeup. Motive: Halloway found her embezzlement — threatened to report it
• Laurent Sorrel, 53 — Director & Former Partner. Motive: Halloway ended their relationship and his contract

The evidence

• EXHIBIT A: Lip Tint — Halloway's — Aconite tincture worked into the tint. Absorbed through the lips over ~70 min.
• EXHIBIT B: Dressing-Corridor Log — Celeste's keycard entered Halloway's corridor 18:42 — no call for her then.
• EXHIBIT C: Note in the Dressing Room — 'This is your last season — one way or another.' Hand matches Celeste's.
• WITNESS 1: Dresser Testimony — 'I saw Celeste at Vivienne's mirror before the overture. She had no reason to be there.'
• EXHIBIT D: Understudy Rider — If the lead is incapacitated, the understudy holds the role for the full run.
• LAB: Toxicology: Aconitine — Aconitine in serum + lip residue. Transdermal route — onset 60–90 min.
• EXHIBIT E: Makeup Kit Vial — Raw aconite tincture in Margot's kit — labelled as a skin astringent.
• FINANCIAL: Embezzlement Memo — Halloway's note: 'Margot — $61K missing from wardrobe budget. Reporting Monday.'

Two thousand witnesses and not one of them was watching the wings. The Halloway Overture is our case about how a full house is the perfect alibi and the perfect crime scene at once — everyone was looking at the stage, which means nobody was looking at each other. One of our harder cases: the poison is slow, and so is the truth.

One of you reads the crime scene. The other reads the people. Play The Halloway Overture free — or browse all cases.