October 31–November 7, 1996
critical mass
NorthStar Productions'Play Murder is loosely based on a true story: the tempestuous, doomed relationship between Libby Holman, a second-rate 1930s chanteuse, and her husband, tobacco magnate Smith Reynolds. When Reynolds was found dead of a gunshot wound, the likely suspects included Holman, her lesbian lover and Reynolds' best friend (and probable male lover). Or did Reynolds, goaded by Libby over his impotence, kill himself in despair?
It's no Richard III, but the basic elements of conflict and passion are in place for an interesting evening of theater. Sadly, Sky Gilbert's episodic play has been staged by Christopher Dante as little more than a campy murder mystery: who killed Reynolds and why? A detective leads an investigation that involves multiple flashbacks, a musical number or two, one bare ass, several Chet Baker songs, plenty of explicit sex jokes, and a Rashomon-style reenactment of the murder in which nothing much is made very clear (which may be the point). It's played half straight and half for laughs, and the result is a frustrating muddle.
The Shubin Theater, which seats about 40, is a good space for the production, since Play Murder works best as cabaret. The physical stuff (a fight, some simulated sex) is effective, the period costumes and setting seem just right, and a wedding scene between Libby (Eric Singel) and Smith (Bill Egan) is charmingly played. But there's weird gimmickry as well, including offstage "fights" among cast members and impromptu speeches to the audience that, like the drag, are more annoying than germane.
Most of the performances are good. The Southern accents are variable, but the actors are energetic and mostly resist the ample opportunity to ham it up. Several obvious laugh lines fall flat, however, which is symptomatic of the production's uncertain tone. Are we having fun yet?
In his program notes, director Dante writes, "Of course, a few theatrical tricks do not constitute a play." Exactly.
— Hans Kellner