Musical murder for two in mystery mash-up
- Alan Hulme
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The real mystery of mad musical whodunnit Murder For Two is why it hasn't been seen in far more UK theatres.
The show is a Broadway award-winner; a couple of tentative UK outings have enjoyed rave reviews and, most tempting of for cash-poor provincial venues, it has a cast of only two - and a piano.
Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre is opening its new home-produced season with it (March 28-April 18), and if it's as good as its previous record suggests, watch out for it at a theatre nearer you, soon.
A mash-up of classic murder mysteries and old-school musical theatre, Murder For Two tells the story of Officer Marcus Moscowicz, an aspiring detective who attempts to solve the murder of a prolific novelist in hopes he’ll be promoted.
While investigating the crime, Marcus meets 13 zany suspects, all played by one actor - from the bespectacled wife of the victim, to the victim’s cigar-smoking therapist. The detective must get to know the suspects and make sense of their wild stories to solve the crime.
Murder for Two will be directed by Caroline Leslie, who said: “I’m thrilled SJT audiences will be taking a crazy ride into the brilliantly comic world of Murder for Two this spring.
"The show is a tour de force of musical mayhem and an ambitious creative challenge. We couldn’t have assembled a better team to bring it to life"
Two actors, Tom Babbage and Lucy Keirl, play the 13 characters - and the piano. Lucy is an actor-musician known for her theatre work, including roles in The Hired Man (Queen's Theatre Hornchurch/Hull Truck/Oldham Coliseum) and A Little Night Music at the Watermill Theatre. She starred in the UK tour of Murder for Two a couple of years ago.
Tom has consistently worked with Mischief Theatre on several of its comedies, including The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and Magic Goes Wrong.
More info and tickets here