Adapted from my Off-Broadway review of the show.
My favorite theater genres are:
1. Musicals
2. Comedies
3. Murder
Mysteries
Happily, all
three are embodied in the very funny, ingeniously written, and energetically
performed two person show, Murder for Two, playing at the Long
Wharf Theatre in New Haven through August 30th.
All the action
takes place on a small stage with the only accouterments being a baby grand
piano, a few props, and one’s imagination. As with many whodunits
the story begins in a large, hilltop mansion where the wife of author Arthur
Whitney is throwing him a surprise birthday party. Unfortunately for
the book writer when he arrives inside the darkened structure a gun is fired,
fatally killing him. Who fired the fateful shot? There is
a house full of suspects—each one nimbly and uproariously portrayed by Kyle
Branzel—everyone one of them with solid motives. Enter would-be
detective Marcus Moscowicz, played with equal comic dexterity by Ian Lowe, who
methodically, or maybe more accidentally, happens upon the multitude of clues
and red herrings to eventually solve the case.
The two actors
have a finely honed chemistry that translates into unbridled zaniness and
semi-controlled madness. Kyle Branzel sometimes seems possessed as
he ricochets from one character to another making each one as believable as the
next. Ian Lowe has only one character to focus on but, nonetheless, needs
all his comedic acting prowess to stay in sync with his tall, lanky partner.
The score, by
Joe Kinosian, who also wrote the amusing and clever book of the show, and
Kellen Blair, is quick-witted and tuneful. It would be interesting
to hear fully orchestrated versions of each tune. All the songs are
performed by Branzel and Lowe, who also demonstrate their considerable
musicianship by accompanying each other on the on-stage piano.
Director Scott
Schwartz expertly guides the two thespians through the fast-paced production,
coming up with enough shtick and sidesplitting shenanigans for two shows.
Murder for Two, inventive and
diabolically funny.
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