The Composer Is Dead
In a theatrical performance showing the work of the world's greatest living composer, everything is going wrong. The actor is mute, the director is crying, and now the composer is dead! Now the most intelligent and handsome Inspector is called upon to investigate the crime, using all of his smarts and good looks as he interrogates every part of the orchestra.
Based on a book written by Lemony Snicket in order to educate children about different parts of the orchestra. It is as darkly humorous as one can expect, based on his previous works.
This play features examples of:
- Department of Redundancy Department: Everyone always mentions the children, who are so young.
- Excited Kids Show Host: The Charming Host.
- Expy: The evil concessions manager looks suspiciously like Doctor Sivana
- Fantastic Racism: In-universe example. There are many prejudices about different instruments: violins are show-offs, brass instruments are loud and violent, reed instruments are sneaky, etc.
- Gentle Giant: The tuba.
- Hurricane of Puns: Skeleton Geoff keeps making several skeleton/graveyard/corpse puns.
- Running Gag: Special mention is given to the children (because they are so young).
- Snicket Warning Label: Right on the first page of the program.
- Stylistic Suck: The hilariously god-awful hand puppet sequence in the beginning.
- Talking to Themself: Skeleton Geoff and the Charming Host are played by the same actor.