Murder for Two (Watermill Theatre and Other Palace)
Jan 31, 2017 12:43:04 GMT
Phantom of London and Nicholas like this
Post by David J on Jan 31, 2017 12:43:04 GMT
Just seen this at the Watermill Theatre
It's not laugh out loud funny, but the titters were growing every minute or so. But by the second act the show was pulling out the stops
A two-hander vaudeville-esque musical parody of the whodunit genre with Luke Sheppard (In the Heights and Oliver at the Watermill) directing. It's an absolute delight in the tiny Watermill space, and it should do well in the Other Palace studio space.
Agatha Christie meets the Marx Brothers over a game of Cluedo as the programme puts it
Ed MacArthur is charming as the hero and straight man, Officer Marcus, so keen to be promoted to detective that he decides to take on the murder of Arthur Whitney on himself.
But Jeremy Legat is the star of the show. Having seen in in Therese Raquin the musical, Grey Gardens and Crazy for You I know that he always gives an animated performance, which is why he's perfect for the role(s) in this. He has to play all the suspects and he switches between them within seconds, changing posture, expression and voice within seconds.
The show however comes together when the two play off each other. The chemistry is adorable and the audience enjoyed watching the duo play the piano together.
The noir set was great, which is put to good use in a crazy (if confusing) climax. It was only let down by these odd modern references including the use of mobile phones.
There is also a moment in the second act where the musical breaks out of the noir setting and Legat performs a soul number. It certainly raised the roof but what was the point
In fact the musical is full of ideas and moments that either work or go no where. There is this backstory about Officer Marcus' relationship with a psychopathic woman and you think she is going to be one of the guests, but as far as I can remember it is never brought up again
But really it is the comedy and the performances that count here. Me and a friend of mine had a fun night out.
Not outstanding but certainly worth giving it a go at the Other Palace
It's not laugh out loud funny, but the titters were growing every minute or so. But by the second act the show was pulling out the stops
A two-hander vaudeville-esque musical parody of the whodunit genre with Luke Sheppard (In the Heights and Oliver at the Watermill) directing. It's an absolute delight in the tiny Watermill space, and it should do well in the Other Palace studio space.
Agatha Christie meets the Marx Brothers over a game of Cluedo as the programme puts it
Ed MacArthur is charming as the hero and straight man, Officer Marcus, so keen to be promoted to detective that he decides to take on the murder of Arthur Whitney on himself.
But Jeremy Legat is the star of the show. Having seen in in Therese Raquin the musical, Grey Gardens and Crazy for You I know that he always gives an animated performance, which is why he's perfect for the role(s) in this. He has to play all the suspects and he switches between them within seconds, changing posture, expression and voice within seconds.
The show however comes together when the two play off each other. The chemistry is adorable and the audience enjoyed watching the duo play the piano together.
The noir set was great, which is put to good use in a crazy (if confusing) climax. It was only let down by these odd modern references including the use of mobile phones.
There is also a moment in the second act where the musical breaks out of the noir setting and Legat performs a soul number. It certainly raised the roof but what was the point
In fact the musical is full of ideas and moments that either work or go no where. There is this backstory about Officer Marcus' relationship with a psychopathic woman and you think she is going to be one of the guests, but as far as I can remember it is never brought up again
But really it is the comedy and the performances that count here. Me and a friend of mine had a fun night out.
Not outstanding but certainly worth giving it a go at the Other Palace
