Reviewed by Giada
The Duchess Theatre is catching a break from over +10 years of hosting the longest-running comedy of the West End. Fans of Mischief, rest assured. You’re in good hands! For just two more dates over the next three months (29th September and 24th November), the baton is being passed to Degrees of Error’s sell-out sensation Murder, She Didn’t Write, before embarking on a national tour.
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| Photo by Pamela Raith |
Grab your pipes and your trusty Watson, and brace yourself for a night filled with laughter and intrigue, all while piecing together the most absurd murder mystery you’ve ever heard of.
Yes, because this one-of-a-kind whodunit is entirely improvised: if it's up to only one member of the audience to pick the murderer and the victim, it's everyone else who collectively decides on the location and weapon of the crime. And, as we know, the audience can be quite cheeky - we almost ended up with a Coldplay concert (iykwim) and a salmon.
The ensemble features five Cluedo-like characters and an Inspector who introduces the rules and guides the narrative. Her prerogative is to pause the action, interrogate the suspects, and summarise the events. Or assign comedic tasks to prompt the chaos, all for the sake of comedy.
I can't say for certain what goes on behind the scenes, who directs the action, if there is a fixed plot with fixed types of characters (some reminiscent of commedia dell'arte). But it all adds to the magic of the experience. We witness six exceptional artists, each with a profound understanding of theatrical practice, ensuring a quality performance (different every night), entirely driven by their own creativity. Watching how quickly they adapt and respond to prompts and situations made me wonder about the amount of rehearsal and work that must go into an improv show.
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| Photo by Pamela Raith |
Murder, She Didn't Write is truly for everyone. Those who have a more in-depth knowledge of theatre will appreciate the meta-theatrical extra layer, while others can simply enjoy a fun night out. The actors' natural chemistry draws the audience in, keeping them engaged and creating a sense of collective happening. Damn, I was locked in! Amidst the chaos and improbable events, they somehow make everything make sense.
From absurd scenarios to top-tier jokes (Hard-on Collider when made out of wood?), it's exactly in the "Degrees of Errors" that the fragility of the medium and the artistry of improvisation are revealed. The entire experience is held together by the invisible thread of the suspension of disbelief. Steadily precarious and impressively executed.
If this company continues to maintain its authenticity and passion for their craft, they are poised to shape the future of British comedy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Murder, She Didn’t Write is booking with dates at the Edinburgh Festival, London’s West End and on tour. Visit https://www.murdershedidntwrite.com/ to book
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| Photo by Pamela Raith |
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