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Speakeasy Dollhouse theater: Cynthia Von Buhler’s immersive murder mystery play, 1920s New York Prohibition & Edgar from Oddities.


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I’ve been dying to see Speakeasy Dollhouse, an immersive play enacted by my friend Cynthia Von Buhler. Guests are encouraged to dress up, mingle with the actors, and try to unravel the 1920s murder mystery of her grandfather.

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Jenny Knifefight and I met at Spano’s Bakery in the Lower East Side.

I’m wearing accessories gifted by Kreepsville666, Yosuke shoes from Marui One Tokyo, and a dress I got years ago in NYC. (Remember I also wore it at Luisaviaroma’s Pink Carpet party in Florence, Italy?)

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We whispered the secret password to the policemen, and met Frank Spano and his gun-wielding wife.

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The instructions urged us to “be nosy and talk to strangers. Wander. If you sit in one place, you will miss everything.”

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A card game in the bakery. At times, it was hard to distinguish between actors and guests.

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Bartenders served whiskey in coffee cups, and flappers did the Charleston to live music.

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Countess Cynthia in green, and legendary playright Edgar Oliver (he’s a character in the play). Perhaps you recognize him from the Oddities: “Is that a straightjacket?” I recently filmed with the Discovery TV show; it should air this fall!

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In one room, we participated in an autopsy. In others, we witnessed scenes of fighting, birth, and murder.

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Like in a mystery novel, we gathered clues and tried to unravel the puzzle.

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From the lush rooms to the seedy characters, it was a beautiful recreation of speakeasy times.

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I can’t reveal all the secrets. You’ll have to attend Speakeasy Dollhouse for yourself. The play runs through December; tickets via the website.

Are you intrigued by Jazz Age culture? Have you ever attended a performance where you take part in the action?

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20 Comments

  1. LostBoy
    Posted August 21, 2012 at 10:43 pm | Permalink

    Lookin good there!!!

  2. Ophelia 77
    Posted August 21, 2012 at 10:44 pm | Permalink

    sweet review

  3. Aimee
    Posted August 21, 2012 at 10:48 pm | Permalink

    I always wanna make the two hour drive to go there ….

  4. Cynthia
    Posted August 21, 2012 at 11:11 pm | Permalink

    Thank you! I loved the eyeballs in your hair. Too bad Dr. Gonzales couldn’t cure you. XX

  5. Aitzir
    Posted August 22, 2012 at 1:31 am | Permalink

    OMG! your dress… is soo beautiful! I would love to be there sometime but I live soo far!

    • lacarmina
      Posted August 22, 2012 at 9:23 pm | Permalink

      Thanks so much! I love this dress, I got it years ago and it never gets old.

  6. Eric
    Posted August 22, 2012 at 3:50 am | Permalink

    Love it!!!

  7. Kelly
    Posted August 22, 2012 at 3:50 am | Permalink

    I remember him ♥ such an interesting man!

  8. jikan
    Posted August 22, 2012 at 5:27 am | Permalink

    that seems so interesting!

    • lacarmina
      Posted August 22, 2012 at 9:22 pm | Permalink

      It was unlike any play I’ve ever attended. Highly recommend.

  9. lacarmina
    Posted August 22, 2012 at 9:23 pm | Permalink

    Amazing! I loved seeing your burlesque event pics on FB.

  10. Yavieriel Tarandir
    Posted August 22, 2012 at 9:56 pm | Permalink

    Aaaah, it looks amazing! The roaring ’20s parties I go to aren’t half so well done, although we do have a lot of fun anyway.

    • lacarmina
      Posted August 26, 2012 at 4:37 am | Permalink

      I was impressed at the attention to detail. A wonderful 1920s speakeasy!

  11. Doug
    Posted August 22, 2012 at 10:14 pm | Permalink

    TOO COOL!!!!

  12. Mika
    Posted August 22, 2012 at 10:41 pm | Permalink

    I wear those same eyeballs and skeleton hands clips in my hair all the time~! ^o^/ love them! And that seems like a fun event!

  13. Lucid Luminos
    Posted August 22, 2012 at 10:42 pm | Permalink

    Is that a knife in my body?

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