Check out Joel’s great interview with Writer/Director Aaron Posner on YouTube!
As I write this review I am a very happy reviewer for two reasons! The first one is this is the 100th review to be posted on DC Theatre Reviews! More about that later, the business at hand is a wonderful musical at Roundhouse Theatre, Bethesda based on a short story written quite a few years ago by a fellow you may have heard of. The author of that short story is Mark Twain and the musical is A Murder, A Mystery And A Marriage. Now to be honest you should call the box office right now and order tickets to this show before you even finish my review, it will be that hot I assure you. So see you in a few minutes ……..
………………..Welcome back (and to all of you risk takers who never left, you may be sorry), let’s talk about this great show!
This show has it all! First off, right out of the blocks it is funny as hell – the show starts off with a humorous musical ditty on turning off your cell and not rattling candy wrappers. From that point on you will be snagged with all the right hooks!
Great hum-along songs (composed by James Sugg) , a fantastic book and lyrics by by Aaron Posner that is laugh out loud funny, a rustic well designed set by Tony Cisek with lighting effects by James Leitner that suck you in to “Deer Lick, Missouri” like it was your home away from home. The fabulous costumes by Kate Turner-Walker are down home country from hats to boots. The excellent band of down home pickers heats up the place thanks to the fine musical direction by Jay Ansnill and sound design by Matthew M Nielson. This is just fine work all around.
The plot is a simple variation on girl loves boy and wants to get married but her inheritance gets in the way. There is a stranger a murder and then, well, you will have to see the show. I have been sworn to secrecy.
I must say that each and every performer in this show gives a slam bang performance. Aaron Posner’s direction has every scene smoothly transitioned into another and Karma Camp’s choreography has the floors stompin’. Local favorite SHERRI EDELEN (Sally Gray), Dave Manning (Clem, Rev Hurley), Anthony Lawson (John Gray), Erin Weaver (Mary Gray), Ben Dibble (Hugh Gregory), Thomas Adrian Simpson (David Gray & The Sheriff), Scott Greer (The Stranger) all sing, dance and deliver comic wit with enthusiasm and flair. Musical standouts are “When Mary is Married” by Ms. Edelelen and Mr. Lawson and the wonderful “God’s World” by Mr. Manning and Company.
I cannot over emphasize how funny A Murder, A Mystery And A Marriage is, The word play with “Hugh” and lines like “Toast only gets buttered on one side” and “I can see through you like poop in a goose” had the audience cackling throughout the entire show. This is one of those shows where everything works from beginning to the end. In the end the cast got a standing ovation, it was well deserved! If you did not order your tickets when I asked you to earlier now is the time.
We loved the show and your review! It was a most enjoyable performance by a talented, energetic group of actors who really gave the best possible display of entertaintment and dedication to maximizing the fun for the audience. We can’t wait to see the show again, and we hope that it gets the recognition that it deserves. Thank you too for hitting the mark with your review.
Congratulations on this website’s 100th review. It’s fitting that your graceful prose, critiquing what was obviously a successful play, constitutes the 100th review, since it has been your vision and enrgy which has crafted dctheatrereviews into what it is. It is a privilege to be associated with this enterprise!
Thank you for this wonderful review! I’m the banjo player in the show, and it’s an honor to be associated with this production. The theater, the actors, the technicians—EVERYBODY involved—are first-rate professoinals.
I’m still on a high after seeing the show last night. I’m still beamin’. Run and get tickets. I can’t wait to see it again and again and again. What a show and what a good time. Joel
Ronnie – I couldn’t agree more with your review. This is one show that folks just shouldn’t miss! Cheryl