Rating: ★★★★
Venue: Duchess Theatre, London
Cast: Lizzy Skrzypiec, Rachael Procter-Lane, Peter Baker, Caitlin Campbell, Stephen Clements, Douglas Walker, Harry Allmark, Rosalind Beeson, Sylvia Bishop, Emily Brady, Alice Lamb, Sara Garrard, Peta Maurice and Matthew Whittle
Don your deerstalker, grab your magnifying glass and get your ‘finger of suspicion’ at the ready because Edinburgh Fringe favourites, Degrees of Error, are bringing back their multiple sell-out show for your sleuthing pleasure. They’ll create a classic murder mystery on-the-spot in this ingenious improvised comedy. You, the audience, become the author as the cast act out your very own Agatha Christie-inspired masterpiece live on stage.
Despite this production already having been running for 13 years, Monday's show marks their West End debut. Murder, She Didn't Write is currently touring the UK until October and takes the traditional "whodunnit" and completely turns it on its head...as it's completely improvised!
Both murder mysteries and improvisations are incredibly popular subgenres of theatre, but to blend them as seamlessly as Degrees of Error do is no small feat. Think the intrigue of Mousetrap, with the hilarity of The Play That Goes Wrong, and you'll have a production that largely resembles Murder, She Didn't Write.
As the show title suggests, Agatha Christie is the inspiration behind this particular production, with our detective being named Agatha Crust. Much like the game of Cluedo, an unsuspecting audience member determines how the evening will pan out by choosing the victim, murderer, weapon and setting before the production officially begins.
It seems a pointless feat explaining the plot of the production, as it's completely different dependent on what is chosen, but expect a perfect blend of hilarity, chaos and a classic whodunnit. It almost feels like it shouldn't work, but after thirteen years of perfecting their craft, it makes for a wickedly funny evening out at the theatre.
The set design from Justin Williams is exceptional. With the setting potentially being different every show, panels are used ingeniously to depict varying locations with ease. The remainder of the set feels very typical of a murder mystery and is able to set the scene remarkably well.
While there does seem to be an unnecessary overuse of Agatha Crust, the two hours fly by in the blink of an eye and it does well at keeping the audience on the edge of their seat, which is essential for a murder mystery. The lighting design from Adam King is imperative to the show and you realise how often you're steered in a certain direction from the lighting and sound alone (Lucy Baker-Swinburn).
It's not the type of theatre you'll be thinking about for days after, but it's entertaining, undoubtedly funny, and the entire cast and crew must be commended for the incredible amount of effort they put into each performance.
You can book tickets to Murder, She Didn't Write, here.
Review by Ed
**photo credit: Pamela Raith**
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