The best thing about a murder mystery is identifying the murderer before the grand reveal.
With 'Design for Murder' now on the Crowded Kitchen Players stage, you can bet a companion they will not be able to identify the murderer. Want to get your husband to paint the garage? Place this bet, and you will get a date and a painted garage. Spoiler alert ¦ the butler did not do it. There is no butler.
'Design for Murder' reportedly was written as a vehicle for Tallulah Bankhead to take on tour. The play takes place in the salon of a run-down mansion on top of a mountain above the Hudson River north of New York. The matron of the house is Celia Granger who lives with her grown son David, a cook/housekeeper, a chauffeur, and a maid. The Grangers are running low on money. David is being married to a rich heiress, Eunice Killborn, whose father made his money in the textile business.
The play opens at the end of a party in the Granger mansion. David is kissing Eunice. Mr. Killborn tries to bribe David to drop the engagement, romantic triangles adding up to at least a pentagon are established, and David is caught by a guest in a compromising situation with the maid. The maid is murdered. The show is off to a mysterious start.
In some performances, a strong play carries a weak cast to a successful performance. In others, a strong cast carries a weak script. In this show, the script is similar to many murder plays. It is enjoyable, but expected, like playing a game of Clue@. Strong performances by most of the cast raise the script above its shortcomings.
Sharon Ferry, as Celia, is the mortar that joins the pieces of the play together. She gives a strong performance that shows any aspiring actor how effective acting is done. She never gives the impression she is acting. Scott VanNortwick, who plays her son David, was given the difficult job of balancing her presence on stage. He makes a believable, rich son with a doting mother, but his tendency to overact did not always balance the performance of Ferry.
The supporting caste is uniformly strong. Patti Squire as Louisa Cortland, and Pamela McLean Wallace as Martha Brand are wealthy contemporaries of Delia. They demonstrate the combination of friendship with Celia with a penchant for gossip about and a little delight in the troubles of Celia and David. The most emotional scene of the evening is between Bill Gibson as Moreno the chauffer and Elizabeth Buss as Mrs. Hamilton the Housekeeper/Cook. In a short scene, they establish the fact that the maid has been murdered, Moreno has been involved with both of them, he beats Mrs. Hamilton, she loves him, and they are about to be grilled by the police. The two of them are powerfully in sync in a way that is rare in community theater.
Todd Carpien as Lt. Carlin and James Dziedsic as Sgt. Brent are naturals as policemen. This is Dziedzics first time on stage, and he acts like a veteran. He has a bright future ahead on the Lehigh Valley stages. Lt. Carlin and Celia have several scenes together and they work together like professionals. They are one of the strongest pairs in the play.
Meghan Laverne as the murdered maid Kathy is perfect for the part. She is fetching, believable, and effective as the love interest of David and Moreno. After Kathy is murdered, Amanda Shellhammer as Nora Taylor comes to work for Celia as the new maid. The circumstances of her arrival are suspicious, but David talks Celia into hiring her anyway. Shellhammer plays a compelling target of seduction for the men of the mansion. Frank Garon as Mr. Killburn and Sarah Thomas as his daughter Eunice make credible members of the Southern nouveau riche.
All of the supporting roles in this play are played such that they give the audience complete confidence and an enjoyable experience. It is the supporting players that give this cast the additional strength to carry the weight needed to make this play a success. When I look at the performance of the entire cast, I understand what it means to be a repertory theater. I look forward to seeing each of these cast members in leading roles in the future.
Tallulah Bankhead once said, œIf you really want to help American Theater, dont be an actress Dahling. Be an audience. My companions and I recommend you follow this advice and attend a performance of 'Design for Murder' by the Crowded Kitchen Players.
Shows will be given at 8PM September 28,29, October 5,6 and 2PM on September 30 and October 7.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and $10 for students. Performances are given at McCooles Arts and Events Place in Quakertown.
You can have dinner at McCooles before the show or drinks after.
Bet your companion dinner or drinks they cannot detect the killer. My companions and I all lost the bet so we went dutch.
Andrew Ferrous can be reached at