‘A Murder Most Novel’
(Photo by Stephen Bryant)
3 stars
It’s the 1940s and veteran detective Max Forthright (Guy Wicke) is throwing a lavish party to celebrate the publication of his upcoming memoirs.
Max has invited a number of distinguished guests including his best friend (the square jawed man of action) screen actor Roman Powell (Stephen J Bryant) accompanied by the lovely young socialite Ainsley Hyde (Taylor Toms) whose father is a well-known politician.
Also in attendance are Max’s publisher Percy Galavanter (Grant Alsup), author Mordecai Van Der Wright (Nick Strauss) who has written a number of successful mysteries, Franklin Goggins (Elliot Lerner) a war hero recently returned from action, gossip columnist Genevieve Wrankle (Katie Incardona) and a number of others, many of whom have been involved in one or more cases Max has solved with the aide of his brilliantly well-organized (and generally under employed due to the social norms of the times) secretarial assistant Bernadette “Bern” Hargreaves (Elaina Henderson).
Before long there is a shot and the discovery of a body causing the entire assemblage to turn to Max to identify the killer in “A Murder Most Novel.”
Produced by Death & Pretzels, written by Alex Butschli and directed by Madison Smith with original music by Andrew Milliken, “A Murder Most Novel” is presented as a live radio performance complete with sound effects by Milliken with the assistance of stage manager Lili Bjorklund.
This humorous fast-paced tongue in cheek two-act noir-melodrama has a little something for everyone – murder, intrigue, orphans, cigarette commercials and endless non-sequiturs involving eels.
The fun begins somewhat incidentally when you arrive at the deco era, former industrial building on Ravenswood Avenue. If you elect to ride the original (now self-service) double-gated elevator to the fourth floor for Nox Arca Theater, this experience will set the mood in terms of time travel as surely as Dr. Who’s phone booth.
The performance space is small, seating only about 30 or so, but the intimacy adds to the feeling that you are watching a live radio play in a vintage broadcast studio.
Each of the actors save Wicke and Henderson, perform multiple roles and seemingly have a great time with the campy humor, especially Nick Strauss who also plays a wealthy dowager and Toms as the perfectly clueless vamp.
This is a cleverly written and well-performed production that is a perfect date-night or enjoyable lighthearted entertainment for all ages.
DETAILS”: “A Murder Most Novel” is at Nox Arca Theatre. 4001 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, through Dec. 14, 2019. Running time: 2 hours with one intermission. For ticket and information visit Death and Pretzels.
Reno Lovison
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