EVANSTON — Was it Samantha, the “pretty one,” or perhaps Star Wars obsessed Steve, the fry master? Maybe it was the mysterious, slightly hunchbacked and zombie-looking Scabby or the new employee Ashley. One thing’s for certain, finding Torok, the manager, dead in the freezer during a visit from the health inspector isn’t doing anything to help the Burgatorium stay in business.

The Evanston High School Drama Devils presented their annual dinner theater production, “Employees Must Wash Hands ... Before Murder,” over six performances at the end of January and first week of February. Attendees were treated to a meal prepared by the ProStart culinary students while the action on stage went on around them throughout the hilarious murder mystery.

Roles were dual, or even triple cast, so audiences likely got a different cast depending on which production they attended. No matter which cast was on stage, however, the audience could be found laughing aloud as the young thespians worked their magic.

As told by the accouncer on company training videos, the first Burgatorium was launched in a renovated funeral home by young entrepreneur J. Tyler Higgenbotham, who forced his elderly mother in a wheelchair to work for him. Newcomer Ashley is guided through her first day by manager Torok, who explains that company policy is to ask a very important question before taking any action; “Will someone sue me? If the answer to that question is no, then you go ahead and do it. If the answer to that question is yes, do it very quietly.”

From fry master Steve, who insists on calling Ashley “Brad,” to Samantha constantly talking about how difficult it must be to work with someone so pretty, Ashley learns right away she’s not working with the most professional of crews. Things quickly go downhill, however, when Health Inspector Jenkins and her intern show up to inspect the restaurant.

As the demerits pile up, and as Jenkins’ very young intern continues to say the word demerit in ever-longer ways — “daaaaaaaaa-merit,” the crew find themselves trying to justify the less than savory condition of the food and the restaurant itself. Steve unsuccessfully attempts to use The Force to keep Jenkins from penalizing the restaurant by waving his hand and saying, “These aren’t the fries you’re looking for.” The hilarity continues until Jenkins opens the freezer only to have a very dead Torok fall to the floor.

Everyone is a suspect, from Samantha and Steve to Ashley, Scabby and disgruntled employee Anderson, who has loudly and aggressively quit, more than once. While Jenkins and the intern try to piece together what happened, the employees one by one continue to proclaim their innocence.

When suspicion begins to turn toward the mysterious Scabby, employee Debbie comes to his defense, eventually proclaiming him to be the man she loves. In a particularly comedic exchange, the hunch-backed Scabby rejects her and informs her he just wants “to be friends.”

Ultimately, in a twist few in the audience, or the cast of characters, saw coming, the real culprit turns out to be Squirmy, the tapeworm, who has been featured in employee training videos singing about proper food handling and preparation.

Once Squirmy admits he’s responsible for Torok’s demise, and everyone decides to simply go about their business because Torok’s death is no great loss, a particularly desperate Debbie decides to try her luck securing a date with Squirmy, who also rejects her and puts her in the friend zone.

The Drama Devils always present an excellent show at dinner theater events, but this year’s production was over-the-top funny and well done. From the waiters and all cast members remaining in character even during seating and intermission times to the fast-food restaurant feel complete with children’s toys and music to the tasty cheeseburgers and chicken strips food options, the entire production served to bring the audience into the action.

The technical crew responsible for lighting, sound, costumes and set design did an outstanding job, as did all the actors who were able to play off one another and improvise when needed in ways that only enhanced the overall production.

Director Erin Russell and the Drama Devils have proven the annual dinner theater is an event not to be missed.