By Sarah Re
The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 presented by Backstage at the Grand in Salt Lake City will keep you on your toes with more twists than soft serve, and have you laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of human response to crisis. Think Clue meets The Producers, but not a musical (as I initially thought it was because of the title) and happening in 1940.
I first tried to scrounge up a date but none of my guys were free to hoof it downtown. I then contacted some of my girls for “Galentine’s Day,” but everyone was busy not being single. Finally, I found a friend to come hang out with me for “Palentine’s Day”. This was my first time at The Grand so we planned extra time, and boy am I glad we got there early! While the theater itself is huge, this is a special “Backstage” production with limited seats up close and personal with the cast. No kidding, if you sat on the front row I could totally see an actor ending up in your lap. Ha! Anyway, get there early because the General Admission seating goes fast and tonight the theater was packed full of Valentine’s, “Galentine’s”, “Palentine’s” dates ready to laugh. And laugh we did!
All the production aspects were well executed, from the simple, yet perfect Sound Design by Adam Day to the on point Lighting Design by Seth Miller. The set, designed by Kyle Becker, was period perfect and totally believable without being overly complicated. The attention to detail really shines here, as well as imagination for staging and use of entrances and exits. Shannon McCullock’s Costume Design pairs well with the overall design composition, complementing the color palette without over- or underwhelming the actors.
This talented cast delivered. Savannah Moffat killed it as Helsa with her impeccable German accent, and perfectly executed quick changes. I mean, daaang that girl was everywhere and she made it look effortless. As the ever optimistic and unflappable Elsa von Grossenknueten Britty Marie graced the stage with a great balance of “I got this” and “I don’t got this… Quick redirect!” hidden under an air of grandeur. Vicki Pugmire kept us in stitches with her portrayal of the drunken, oblivious Bernice, obsessively rewriting her script punctuated by her occasional dramatic outbursts. Patrick Kintz as Ken de la Maize, Kim Blackett as Roger Hopewell, and Natalie Keezer as Marjorie Baverstock made for a great producing ensemble, full of the kinds of distraction, annoyance, and other behaviors anyone with a long-standing work relationship develops. Gordon Dunn as Eddie McCuen and Michelle Lynn Thompson as Nikki Crandall led the show with sass and sparks, a clear “chemistry” between the two from the start. Eric Geels was also a crack up as Patrick O’Reilly, plenty of charm and charisma from this one with the “very blue eyes.” Doug Irey as Michael Kelly had a great balance of serious police detective and ridiculous, bamboozled guy lost in the tunnels. As a whole, the cast played off each other in humorous near misses, misdirections, and mistaken identities.
The one opportunity area I can see for this production as a whole would be in timing. While clarity with the text is vital, there were a few moments that needed a little more energy for true comedic timing. In my experience, this will be cleared up as the actors continue to get the show “in their bones” and it takes a life of its own. I was curious as to why there were a few blackouts, most notably during the beginning of the show. As an audience member, I felt they were unintentional and made me feel a little awkward. All these are nit-picky details because really the production was a riot!
While the majority of the show is family appropriate, there is some partial nudity and one scene in the second half that, while funny, is not family friendly. There is quite a bit of alcohol drinking throughout the piece, so be advised if you plan to bring your younger audience members. However, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 was an excellent way for me to spend “Palentine’s Day”. Grab your sweetheart or your pal and get to the Grand. Prepare to laugh–a lot.
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Backstage at The Grand presents The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 by John Bishop
The Grand Theater, 1575 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Contact: 801-957-3322
February 8-24, 2018 7:30 PM
Tickets: $20 Adults $17 Seniors
The Grand Theatre Facebook Page
The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 Facebook Event
Junior high and high school students receive a free ticket when they show their school ID at the box office. No Refunds. Limited Exchanges. No Children Under 5. Doors open 30 minutes prior to start time.
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