Calling all StageSiders, welcome back to another review here at StageSideUK. This time around we are talking about the ever so brilliant Murder She Didn’t Write, which played at the Darlington Hippodrome. Settle in, the review of this utterly chaotic show is about to begin!
Disclaimer: We were gifted two free press tickets in exchange for an honest review of the show.
If you’ve ever found yourself watching Midsomer Murders and thinking, what this really needs is more chaos, corpsing and custard pies, then Murder, She Didn’t Write is the show for you. This truly side splitting comedy from Degrees of Error is an utterly unhinged rollercoaster of laughter, sleuthing and silliness. I would also say, Murder She Didn’t Write has to be one of the most enjoyable nights of theatre I’ve had this year!
From the moment the cast step on stage (before the show starts) the tensiono, suspense and comedy is top notch. When the show starts, the audience is not just invited, but urged to get involved. In this show, the audience creates the title of the murder mystery, decides the setting, and even selects the murderer, deceased and murder weapon. Once all of that is sorted, the cast are off, crafting a brand-new murder mystery on the spot, complete with wild characters, genre tropes, red herrings, and all the melodrama you’d expect from a Christie-esque mystery.
The cast are true masters of unscripted drama. They manage to keep a coherent (even thought it was increasingly ridiculous) narrative on track, whilst throwing in jokes at pace and constantly reacting to each other’s (and the audience’s) curveballs. It’s Whose Line Is It Anyway? meets Agatha Christie, but it is executed so so well!
Audience participation is at the show’s core, but never in a way that feels awkward, nerve wracking or intimidating. The performers thrive on suggestions — no matter how absurd. Our show took place at a tupperware party with a very gory murder! There were other suggestions though, of bouncy castles, adult parties and other destinations which prompted some of the character names such as Vi Brator…. The actors do a great job at including everyone and everything, but they made the narrative make sense which was really impressive.
What makes Murder, She Didn’t Write such a success is that beneath the chaos lies a group of exceptionally skilled performers. Improv, when done well, is amazing, and here, it’s done very well. The speed with which they respond to one another, the physical comedy, the razor-sharp wit, it’s all there, and it all adds up to a theatrical experience that feels alive, spontaneous, and chaotically unpredictable.
By the final bow, I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. This is theatre that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and yet is seriously impressive. If you’re craving an evening of chaos, fun, brilliantly bad accents, and improv at its finest, Murder, She Didn’t Write delivers in spades, or bags full (if you were there you get it).
Accesibility
The show does include some audience participation, but it isn’t ever forced. You can get as involved as you wish to be. The show doesn’t contain any loud music or sudden sounds other than that which is made by the actors. There aren’t really any triggers that affected me, but there are some coloured lights that change in the background, but there wasn’t a warning for this at the venue and so I assume this is a slow change.
Value for money
As I said earlier, this is one of the most enjoyable nights at the theatre I have enjoyed this year! A really great night of truly impressive acting, great comedy and really well done improv! If improv is your thing, or you are looking to have a night of ridiculous silliness, then Murder She Didn’t Write is the show for you!
Have your say!
Have you seen Murder She Didn’t Write? Let me know in the comments and let’s get a discussion going.
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