There’s no spoiler alert needed for this fantastic, rip-roaring, improvised comedy whodunnit because no two performances of Murder, She Didn’t Write, will ever be the same.
That’s right, each Agatha Christie-inspired show is completely unplanned and made up on the spot, scene by scene. It’s the audience who creates the plot and an unsuspecting member in the crowd (Jerkins) who choses which character will die and later who the murderer is.
In this Cluedo-esque performance there’s a murder on a school trip at a castle. And the weapon of choice? It’s definitely not a candlestick or rope, for our show it was an ever-growing cucumber. Mr Red’s face is squashed by it, but who killed him and why?
If you’re in need of a good laugh then this is for you. The cast make it look so easy, and it’s a wonder how they kept it all going for a total of one hour and 40 minutes.
It starts with the great detective herself, Agatha Crusty (Lizzy Skrzypiec), who explains how it all works and takes her place on one side of the stage. We meet the characters, the castle owner Mr Blue (Stephen Clements); his son Mr Red (Douglas Walker) who has left behind his rich life to become a school bus driver; Mr Blue’s butler, maid, chambermaid, cook, cleaner and cigarette fetcher Monsieur Vert (Peter Baker); the school’s teacher/acting headteacher Ms Violet (Caitlin Campbell) and school administrator Ms Gold (Rachael Procter-Lane).
They begin setting the scene we’ve created for them, and with the help or meddling of Agatha Crusty, some scenes result in laugh after laugh after laugh. No one, including the actors, knows how long each scene will be – that’s decided by Agatha Crusty, who interrupts in places, adding in her own spice to thicken the plot and by the lighting team – when the set plunges into darkness, the scene ends – even if they are mid-sentence.
It’s side-splittingly funny and in places descends into ridiculousness – and even at these points it’s still hilarious, as even the characters struggle to keep straight faces.
While improv shows can be hit or miss, the team at Degrees of Error, have absolutely nailed it with this creation.
The play is now on its UK tour and is back in London on 6 May in Richmond and returns to the Duchess Theatre on 19 May. More info: here.
Review: Sunita Jaswal Photo: Pamela Raith