Wild accusations, wit, and a little dash of murder… or not.
This Is Not a Murder Mystery is a strangely entertaining affair. Three aging starlets and a lesser known director prepare for opening night in Peter Rae’s genre-bending new play. Well-written and wonderfully performed, This Is Not a Murder Mystery will have you rolling with laughter.
A beautiful set, it invited the audience into the backstage world of This Is Not a Murder Mystery. There are little touches across the stage that really make it feel like a true dressing room. The hanging flowers across the back were especially pleasant. The show’s lighting was nothing fancy which made perfect sense for the story.
Jonny Davidson as Director Sebastian Fawn gave off a manic energy that overwhelmed what could have been a decent performance. James Mackay was cute, if forgettable, as young James Maguffin. Peter Rae gave an oddly engaging performance in his role. He was both ridiculous and intriguing, making an interesting addition to the menagerie of characters.
The three leading ladies, Helen Bang, Rosalind Blessed, and Laura Morgan carried the show. Each created a unique and memorable character, but it was the relationship between the three that made it so captivating. Helen Bang delighted as Elizabeth Treasure; her aloof otherworldliness was enchanting. Rosalind Blessed gave a powerhouse performance as one-time cult TV-icon Angelica Finchley-Power. There was something in the subtlety of her expressions and the sly delivery of her lines that oozed sex and power. Laura Morgan’s Sheila-Jayne Punnock mixed vulgarity and humor in a surprisingly charming way. Collectively, the women captivate with their chaotic back and forth.
This Is Not a Murder Mystery has a lot more play than plot. Though there is a story with satisfying payoff, the banter between the characters is what carries the show. The first act feels somewhat decorative; though it sets up more than a few jokes for the second act, it doesn’t illuminate any path by which the story may progress. With the slightest modifications, act two could have stood alone.
The entire show had a not-unpleasant, kitschy sitcom feel. The script itself is full of golden nuggets, zingy one-liners that hit the mark every time, but it tries too hard to be poignant.
The characters, especially in the first half, frequently go off on tangents trying to make social commentary out of what should be a simple comedy. There is a lot of potential but it needs to be refined and refocused. Rae has created fascinating characters and the story’s eventual resolution is thoroughly satisfying. I especially enjoyed the echoes of Abbott and Costello’s Who’s on First trickled throughout. Not perfect, but not far off, This Is Not a Murder Mystery delights and entertains. Big personalities, brilliant banter and a touch of mystery; what more could you want?