Murdered to death

"Murdered to Death" is a delightful Inspector Pratt comedy that brilliantly captures the essence of a classic whodunnit, laced with humour reminiscent of vintage BBC comedies like Only Fools and Horses and Fawlty Towers. Directed by Ryan Stevens in his debut, the play offers a fun ride from start to finish, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and memorable performances.

Marcia Anderson, in the role of Mildred, is a joy to watch. Her transformation from a demure lady to a domineering secret lover of Charles, played by Alf Curry, was both seamless and utterly hilarious. Her stage presence is captivating, and she brings a great deal of nuance to her role. Meanwhile, Curry, as Charles, made some bold character choices that, while occasionally a bit over-the-top, were highly entertaining and served the comedy well. His performance was funny, endearing, and perfectly in tune with the play’s tone.

Lucie Burrow as Margaret gave a standout performance, revealing multiple layers to her character and demonstrating her versatility as an actress. John Hughes, playing the subservient Bunting, delivered a wonderfully deadpan portrayal of the butler, excelling particularly in the scenes where he acted drunk, adding to the comedy with precision.

The dynamic between Sarah Neary (Elizabeth) and Keith Goody (Pierre) added a fun twist to the show. Neary’s switch from posh lady to cockney thief was both surprising and highly entertaining, while Goody’s portrayal of Pierre, though sometimes hard to hear due to the soft French accent, added further comedy and intrigue. His shift from French artist to cockney fraudster was handled with finesse and comic timing.

Joyce Stafford’s portrayal of Joan was simply superb. From the moment she entered the stage, her performance was so believable and engaging that it was impossible to take your eyes off her. 

Dean Zetter, as Inspector Pratt, brought the lovable fool to life with great comic timing and a fantastic selection of character choices. His interactions with Tompkins, played by Gary Jones, were particularly entertaining, with the two creating a brilliant double act reminiscent of classic duos like Blackadder and Baldrick. Jones' portrayal of Tompkins, the smarter but lower-ranked sidekick, provided the perfect contrast to Pratt’s bumbling nature, making their scenes together some of the funniest moments in the play.

Jenny Pavitt held her own on stage and delivered a solid performance as Dorothy. Her ability to portray the different layers of the character was impressive with strong projection and stage presence.

While the show was generally well-paced, there were a few moments of confusion, particularly in the first half with blackouts during the curtain closings that left the audience in the dark (quite literally) for a bit too long. However, in the second act, the blackouts on stage worked better, though there were moments where actors playing "murdered" characters could be seen moving around.

The set was incredibly effective, fully immersing the audience in the world of the play. Sound and lighting were well-balanced, adding to the overall atmosphere. The costumes were fantastic, helping to further bring each character to life.

In conclusion, Murdered to Death is a wonderfully entertaining comedy with a talented cast and superb direction from Ryan Stevens. Stevens, in his debut, should be immensely proud of the production, particularly the extra comedic touches that added so much life and laughter to the show. If you’re looking for a light-hearted, nostalgic night of comedy, this play is a must-see.

 

Natalie Hills

District 10

 

 

 

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