By Bronwyn Cook
Scene – a house in New England. Guests gather for a surprise birthday party. There are decorations. There is cake. There are drinks. There is a MURDER.
Who killed renowned local author Arthur Whitney? Can Officer Marcus Moscowicz and his assistant Lou solve the crime (and secure his desired promotion to Detective) before his superiors arrive?
Welcome to “Murder for Two” – a musical comedy whodunit that in a riotously hilarious 90 minutes not only strives to solve the crime but introduces us to 13 very colourful characters played by 2 actors. Yes, you read that right. 13 characters, 2 actors.
Comedy double acts work best when there is a straight main and a comic foil. As Officer Moscowicz, comedian Gabbi Bolt strongly plays the singular straight man against Maverick Newman who deftly and delightfully flits between the other 12 characters.
At first, I had trouble discerning the different characters, but as the show went on and Newman was given the chance to settle into each role, their individual personalities, traits and murder motives became clear. Credit to dialect coach Linda Nicholls-Gidley for helping shape distinct mannerisms for multiple characters.
Just like he did in “Friends! The Musical Parody”, Newman steals the show with his multiple characters, but none more so than diva ballerina Barrette Lewis.
If the Cambridge Footlights existed in Australia, then I’m sure Newman would be amongst their ranks, his comic style, timing and physicality evokes Michael Palin and John Cleese.
As the protocol driven Officer Moscowicz Bolt brings the stabilising influence on the show and has a beautiful voice that shines during her musical numbers. She also displays her acting chops as she must interact with unseen characters Lou and her police chief.
In a show with only two actors on stage, chemistry and trust is a must. Bolt and Newman have this in spades, and even though there were one or two instances where Bolt nearly bolt character in reaction to Newmans hysterical characters, you can tell that there is great respect between the two actors.
There is however another actor on stage not yet mentioned…a piano. Both actors take turns – sometimes at the same time – playing the piano which provides not only the backing music to the show, but depth to the storyline.
There have been numerous productions of “Murder” globally since its debut in 2011, and in Australia it has been staged twice at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney, showcased at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival before it’s now Melbourne debut before returning to Sydney to the Riverside Theatres, with director Richard Carroll at the helm of all the productions.
In looking at other productions, sometimes both roles are played by men, but what gives the Australian production of “Murder” a sharp edge is the gender swap – which adds to the intelligence and enjoyment of the show and is a testament to the talent of the actors who play these roles.
As a murder mystery, it’s easy to draw Agatha Christie comparisons, but I prefer to think of the “Murder for Two” more in the modern vein of the Knifes Out series. The music, lyrics and book by Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair are whip smart, musically interesting and side-splittingly funny.
You’ll get no spoilers from me on who ends up being the guilty party (or parties?).
You’ll just have to go see the show for yourself. You won’t regret it.
Image: Mark Gambino
