By Tina Arth and Darrell Baker
Depending on the time of year, Broadway Rose is either a big
company producing lavish Broadway musicals or a small, intimate company
offering quirky and often unknown gems. This season’s latest gem, Whodunit… The Musical, is a real
treasure, both as a musical and as a comedy. Broadway Rose Artistic Director
Sharon Maroney met playwright Ed Dixon a few years ago, and he pitched his
obscure new show to her. She liked it, and the rest will soon be history.
At first glance, Whodunit
looks like just another comfortable murder-mystery-musical in an already
crowded field. What distinguishes this show is that Dixon’s music, lyrics, and
book, in the hands of director Annie Kaiser and a top-flight Broadway Rose
cast, simply sparkle with unexpected wit and evoke a steady stream of belly
laughs.
The story adheres perfectly to the genre. A spinster aunt
and her maid rent a large, old isolated house. They will be joined by a lovely
young niece and her friend (who turns out to be a surprise fiancé). With the
exception of the butler, the entire household staff has quit, frightened by
eerie events that began after the demise of the house’s former master.
Mysterious things happen – a dark and stormy afternoon, a face in the window, a
burglar who takes nothing and leaves behind a crow bar, a shot in the dark that
kills the intruder, another fatal gunshot, and more. It’s happily ever after
for all (except the dead guys). Impossibly clichéd, yet impossibly
entertaining.
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The other four major characters (Debbie Hunter as the aunt,
Joy Martin as the niece, Thomas Slater as the butler, and Mike Dederian as the
detective) more than carry their weight. Hunter and Martin bring strong comedic
backgrounds to challenging roles, and prove that classical vocal training does
not necessarily conflict with the demands of musical comedy. Dederian’s
trench-coated gumshoe skillfully alternates between two modes – the private eye
and the wandering eye. The butler gets a lot more latitude; Slater’s expressive
face and powerful voice fully exploit the role’s potential.
Music Director Mont Chris Hubbard and his tiny band do full
justice to a lively score that explores various musical styles ranging from
Sondheim to Gilbert and Sullivan. None of the songs would stand alone, for each
supports the story and provides a unique comic touch. We cannot fail to mention
the set, which provides an elegant tone akin to Henry Higgins’ study with menacing
overtones suited to a Universal Horror picture.
You’ve probably never seen or heard of this show – but trust
us. Whodunit is a local premiere that
sets the standard for a show that should, in time, become a standard. Go see
it.
“Whodunit… The Musical”
runs through October 19th at
the Broadway Rose New Stage in Tigard. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays –
Saturdays, with 2:00 pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.