Murder Mystery Musical

Murder Mystery Musical is a distinctly British affair. It tells the story of Morgan Tremain, a deceased pop impresario who summons his extended family (a host of saucy, buxom women, an estranged brother and an agent) to an exotic island outpost for his funeral. There, a vicious murderer with a taste for camp killings wreaks havoc on the greedy, fearful mourners. Whodunnit? The sex hungry gossip columnist? Or the silent, postcolonial manservant? As the possible culprits decrease in number, the atmosphere becomes tense and poisonous. The fabulous show tunes, however, keep on coming.

The show’s production team is made up of some of the heavy hitters of musical theatre. Shaun McKenna’s name precedes him, having been behind the scripts for Ben Hur Live and Lord of the Rings. Barry Purves, who worked with Tim Burton on Mars Attacks!, has designed a visually effective stage, using little space and subtle touches to great effect. Furthermore, the cast, on the whole, are superb.

What makes the show worthwhile is the presence of a plotline which, often, is more engaging than the songs which pepper it. Intrigue abounds throughout, and the arrival of the charming private detective, Gaston Lemon, adds to the aura of suspense. The tunes are generally pleasant, with the pop star Natalie La Belle’s rendition of her hit ‘Breathless’ a stand-out moment of pure camp. In general, this is a fine performance of a new musical. Think of it as a tragic story of island life - a sexed-up South Pacific.