Review: Vertigo Theatre’s A KILLING SNOW brings chills and thrills to Calgary audiences
The show is a chilling murder mystery that tempts the fates.
For all those armchair detectives and true crime junkies, Vertigo Theatre is the destination for your mystery fix. Known for their suspense and thriller offerings, the theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary in the upcoming season, a testament to Calgarians love for mystery and intrigue. The preshow had a preview of the upcoming season and many audience members were audibly excited by the offerings to come, reinforcing the notion that niche theatres are alive and well.
A Killing Snow transports the audience to a blizzard-ravaged home in Huron County, Ontario where five ‘strangers’ are unwittingly drawn together to escape the storm. With the death of an elderly former school teacher opening the scene, we are on edge from the start, wondering how this death could foreshadow the fate of the survivors. As the story unwinds, it appears that our strangers are all in fact connected to one another, perhaps not a stretch given the interconnectedness of small town life. It is clear that there are underlying tensions from past relationships fraught with jealousy, hurt, and clashing ideologies. The banter is quick-witted and blends high brow comedy from our highly educated elite to the unrefined humour of the working class man. With no way to escape out into the storm, it is clear that the characters must find a way to coexist, yet not all is as it appears. Amidst the petty bickering, a darker, more sinister force is at work. A murderer is among them.
For fear of ruining the story, I will simply say that it was fun to analyze the different motives and idiosyncrasies of each character to try and parse out who the killer could be. Thrown into the mix is a healthy mix of mythology, with the Greek Fates at the centre, spinning the thread of destiny and ultimately cutting the ties of their victims. It was hard to tell what was supernatural and what could be explained simply by the darker human nature, a true thrill until the end.
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I must admit, a big highlight of this show was the amazing work of the lighting team. I have never been so amazed by the way the lighting was utilized to bring the snowy storm to life, and to build the suspenseful atmosphere that kept us captivated throughout the story. Well done! The technical tricks to make objects move on their own, change without our notice, and bring general unease to the audience was top notch.
There are only a few days left to catch this show, so head over to Vertigo Theatre this weekend to catch it while you can! I’m already looking forward to their next show, The Verdict, which runs May 9 - June 7, 2026.
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