"Murder for Two"

August 23, 2018 — What can I say about "Murder for Two?" It's a murder mystery comedy set to music. I had no idea what to expect when I took my seat in the New London Barn Playhouse, wrapping up its 86th season with this production, directed and choreographed for the Barn by Anthony C. Daniel. Book and music are by Joe Kinosian and book and lyrics by Kellen Blair.

Two actors in a manic 90-minute presentation chew up Vincent Gunn's scenery at an exhausting pace. Brandon Lambert is Marcus, a detective (maybe), and Kyle Branzel plays nine suspects, male and female, without costume changes, but just using different voices, accents and mannerisms, occasionally donning glasses as the victim's wife. His tall, gangly frames makes him all the more hilarious, especially as the ballerina. The two actors alternate between playing the same piano, sometimes both at the same time, and acting out the various roles.

When Arthur Whitney (not seen) arrives for his surprise birthday party, the lights go out, shots ring out, and he ends up dead on the floor. All the action takes place with Whitney's body (imaginary) lying on the floor. This first night performance with its complicated choreography, piano playing, and Branzel's show-stealing multiple roles went off without a hitch. That may be due to the fact both actors played the same roles previously. Lambert had to suppress his own laughter a few times, but I have to wonder if that was deliberate, a way to draw laughs from the audience. If that was the case, it wasn't necessary. The play was uproariously funny all the way through.