Theatre Central presents its spring show “Done to Death,” a murder-mystery comedy written by Fred Carmichael, has an abstract plotline, frequent firing of gunshots and even a scene involving a strobe-light. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

The play follows a team of five renowned mystery writers, assembled to write scripts for a new TV show. Each writer encompasses their own type of writing style but what they all have in common is their habit of conjuring cliché stories that have been “done to death.”

From the start, the performance breaks the fourth wall as the actors communicate with the audience, for instance, asking for applause and laughter in some scenes. In the first act, the five main characters apply their individual methods of writing to brainstorming ideas for the new TV show. Then in the second act, the characters focus their experiences as writers to solve a real mystery.

The show had a good balance of audio and visual design along side the script. The set was well constructed, containing props like a large fireplace. The costumes looked well made. The lighting looked great, too, not only including a strobe light but also changing between the dream scenes and the reality ones. The music beautifully added to the experience, encompassing popular pieces from the time period. The gunshots and other audio effects sounded stunning. And the script was witty and humorous.

My favorite parts were the ones satirizing old mystery movies and I was impressed by the actors’ romantic chemistry.

“Done to Death,” directed by Tom Ulbrich, includes Carolyn Foote, Nick Ciliak, Regan Carey, Danny Peterson, Daniel Crowley, Jackson Pierce and understudies Sarah Hollander, Kirsten Strom, Nick Radmer and John Ludlam.

Tickets are $5 at the door. Show times include Thursday, March 10 at 7:30p.m., Friday, March 11 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 12 at 8 p.m. The show is about two and a half hours long.