By Alayna Een Hanna
The Covey Center for the Arts’s presents Ron Bernas’s dark comedy A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody. The main characters are a resignedly loveless couple, the wealthy Matthew and Julia Perry. Jealous of the carefree life of his recently widowed friend, Matthew makes an unusual New Year’s resolution: to murder his wife before the year is out. Her counter-resolution is simple: to stay alive. Their resolutions are tested by the upcoming nuptials of their only daughter and her dedicated fiancé. Matthew’s increasingly frequent and elaborate attempts seem to keep raking up unexpected casualties, rousing the suspicions of a bumbling detective and causing rifts and unexpected realizations in the family. Amid sharp banter, mistaken identities, and escalating mayhem, A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody playfully spoofs the classic murder-mystery genre, ultimately proving its title to be surprisingly accurate.
Director Ben Cumins brings this quick-witted comedy to the stage, milking every scene for its full comedic potential. With a small cast of larger-than-life characters, his casting choices give the show the solid foundation it needs. Gabi Pack’s lighting design supports and amplifies the motion and emotion in the scenes. The show takes place in a single room in the Perry’s estate, and Spencer Powell’s scenic design provides a clear backdrop of wealth and comfort. I especially loved the fireplace, whose mantle is decorated for the passing holidays; but there’s also plenty of space for secrecy, spying, and shenanigans. Jessica Moody’s costuming adds to the elegance of the scenes.
It takes a special performance to sell the audience on this play’s premise—a bored husband’s open resolution to murder his wife—and Matthieu C. Kohl’s Matthew provides it. His frankness keeps the feeling light and fun. Unflappable even in fatal circumstances, Hillary Straga is a remarkable Julia. Her easy elegance and honesty increase the situational humor in her nonchalant responses to assassination attempts and carry the slight air of mystery to a satisfying end.
Donald (Boston Angsley) and Bunny (Autumn Bickmore) are an odd match: picture a golden retriever in love with a goldfish. But Angsley and Bickmore make you believe they’re meant to be. The quirky couple is devoted to each other in a cute way that contrasts strongly with the other Perry couple. Bickmore’s brainless Bunny is also sweet and endearing while Angsley’s misguided Donald is doggedly heroic in his own way.
Tanner Frederiksen plays Plotnick, the incompetent private eye, as if the role were made for him. He masters the absurd strings of dialectal monologue and also commits fully to the physical comedy, from the tip of his quizzical eyebrow through to his misstepping feet. When it comes to solving crime, Plotnick always gets it wrong; but with comedy, Frederiksen always gets it right. Rounding out the cast is Buttrum (David Bruce), the longsuffering and secretly lovelorn buttler. He adds to the air of mystery with his clandestine phone calls and ups the comedy in his confessional scenes with Julia—who would clearly rather be anywhere else.
The story toys with the heavy themes of murder, abandonment, embezzlement, and adultery while keeping them at arms length, steering clear of anything graphic or triggering and preserving the irreverent romp of comedy. Ultimately and unexpectedly, love wins the day and all loose ends are happily tied together. As an early lead-in to spooky season, A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody at The Covey is a comedy about second chances—and you won’t want to miss yours. So get your tickets soon!
The Covey Center for the Arts presents A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody, by Ron Bernas.
The Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W Center St, Provo, UT 84601
September 3 to October 11 2025, M, Th–Sat 7:30 PM
Tickets: $20–25, ages 12+
Contact: 801-852-700
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