Speakeasy Dollhouse

Speakeasy Dollhouse was a series of immersive plays based on Cynthia von Buhler's investigations of mysterious deaths in site-specific historic locations.

The story extends beyond his death to encompass the hasty trial of Spano's confessed killer but leaves to the audience the final conclusions about why and by whom the murders were committed.

Designed to mimic the dollhouse-scale sets depicted in the graphic novel, there is a speakeasy bar, private alleyway, club cum living room, bakery, coroner's office and Pre-war bedroom.

Upon arrival, each person receives a slip of paper assigning them a unique character to play[4] and instructions to "ignore the advice your parents gave you as children, be nosy and talk to strangers.

Taking inspiration from the Nutshell Studies, von Buhler recreated the scenes from her grandfather's murder and the events leading up to it using her own handmade sets and dolls.

[6] Utilizing evidence gathered from autopsy reports, police records, court documents, and interviews in tandem with the dolls and sets, she has pieced together a variety of probable scenarios to explain the crime.

The undertaker, Dominick Grimaldi, was played by Edgar Oliver from 2011 to 2013, a New York City playwright and poet who frequently appears on the television show Oddities.

Dominick Grimaldi was played by Uncle Nino, a New York City celebrity who frequently appeared on Jersey Shore, a reality TV Series.

[9] Von Buhler, the coroner's office diorama, and the play's secret location were central to an episode of The Discovery Channel's reality television show Oddities.

[10] Of Dolls and Murder, directed by Susan Marks and narrated by John Waters, is a documentary about Frances Glessner Lee's crime scene investigation dollhouse dioramas.

[9] Songs by Amanda Palmer, Kim Boekbinder, and the Howard Fishman Quartet were featured with permission in the Speakeasy Dollhouse project launch video used during the Kickstarter campaign.

This situation trained Edwin to become a talented, hard-working star who deeply understood the nuances of Shakespeare, while the younger brother grew into an impatient, fame-seeking dreamer.

The audience sleuths the luxury suite at Hotel Ritz Paris where Jack Pickford allegedly tried to save his wife, Follies’ star Olive Thomas, after she drank poison.