Murder for Two – Review by Bonnie Goldberg

You may be well acquainted with Professor Plum and Colonel Mustard and an assortment of weapons from lead pipes to candlesticks but that may or may not prepare you for the high jinxes and antics of the murderous spoof by Kellen Blair and Joe Kinosian playing at the Ivoryton Playhouse until Sunday, August 1st.

“Murder for Two” features one piano, one wannabe detective, one murder (until it’s two), two gifted actors and a lucky baker’s dozen of suspects. Ian Lowe is currently merely an officer, Marcus Moscowicz, but that doesn’t stop him from dreaming big. Joe Kinosian plays everybody else, from the victim, the popular mystery author Arthur Whitney who is about to be doubly surprised, first by a birthday party and second by a gun shot to the forehead. Joe is extremely busy portraying all the guests who could have done the dastardly deed, from Arthur’s wife Dahlia, his ballerina dancing mistress, the members of a boy’s chorus and the psychiatrist Dr. Griff who knows everybody’s secrets and likes to share. And if that weren’t enough, there is a stash of ice cream that has gone missing.

Director and choreographer Wendy Seyb was happy to relate, “It’s a joy and a pleasure to always return to this show. After working on it in various locations for eight years, it is still fresh and new.” This 90 minute farce and romp is non-stop, especially if you are a fan of physical humor of the ilk of Abbott and Costello and The Three Stooges. Complete with sound effects, great songs like “Protocol Says” and “The Friendship Song,” it spins merrily along as witnesses are questioned and clues are examined.

For tickets,($55 adults, $50 seniors, $25 students), call the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton, at 860-767-7318. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Wednesday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

If you are ready to escape from home, run over to the Ivoryton Playhouse for clever melodrama and malarky with a little murder and mint chocolate chip tossed in for fun.