Review by Mark Quinn
It took a few minutes for the audience of The Mac Belfast to catch up with the tone and rhythm of Murder for Two. This musical is billed as putting the laughter into manslaughter, and necessitates the usual set-up of a whodunit – introducing the cavalcade of suspects and the plucky “detective” tasked with solving the murder. Fans of cult classic Clue will love this – imagine Knives Out meets Operation Mincemeat.
Novelist Arthur Whitney is the story’s victim, shot at his 80th birthday by one of the guests who have arrived to surprise him. The introduction to each of the characters could initially confuse, as I suspect in this case, as of the play’s thirteen characters, ten are performed by one actor, and three the other, roughly split into The Suspects and the Investigators.
The primary sleuth is Officer Marcus Moscowicz, quickly deducing that each of the invitees mirrors a character in one of Whitney’s novels. Rob Gathercole as Marcus is there to keep the plot ticking along with several comic moments and impeccable timing. This could have been a straight man role, but Moscowicz’s eagerness to solve the case and become detective whilst sticking to protocol is simply hilarious.
Will Arundell is simply mesmerising as each of the Suspects. The way he slips into each across the ninety minute runtime without breaking a sweat is an absolute marvel, considering the physical demands of the slapstick, quick change of a costume detail or prop and synchronicity with Gathercole. His turn as Dahlia Whitney, the victim’s widow is perhaps the standout, though it’s hard to look past the young trio of survivors of a blaze which killed the rest of their 12-part boy’s choir.
If that sounds grim – I assure you A Lot Woise, is one of the comedic highlights of the show – these youngsters have seen some stuff! Yonker’s dance solo is particularly inspired. Other song standouts include Protocol Says, A Perfectly Lovely Surprise, and the showstopper, teased throughout the play, Steppin’ Out of the Shadow. The original music by Joe Kinosian, lyrics from Kellen Blair contains several earworms and the book by the pair is punchy and whip smart. If you miss a joke the next one is sure to get you.
If it took a moment for the audience to warm to Murder for Two, by close they were firmly on side. Appropriately, the duo of players received two well-deserved standing ovations. This play demands two extraordinarily gifted individuals for it to work, requiring acting, dancing, singing and live piano performance throughout. Gathercole and Arundell are more than up to the task and the twists. It becomes increasingly hard to believe there were only 2 on stage and not an entire cast of players – and the twists and turns are as silly as they are smart. A rip-roaring, exemplary murder mystery musical production.
Rating: ★★★★★ (Excellent)
Murder for Two is at The MAC Belfast until then 11 May, then touring
