Reviewed by Rachel Doulton
It was a wild stormy night when this group of friends arrived at an Airbnb expecting a night of games, chats, and making memories that would last a lifetime but the memories they ended up making were not as expected. Turder, She Wrote spins the murder mystery genre on its head and you are taken in by this masterpiece of a sh*t show taking place in the Kaos room in the Blue Room Theatre for their Summer Nights’ Festival.
This riotous parody hilariously blends slapstick humour with a classic whodunnit narrative with snappy dialogue filled to the brim with puns and great one-liners. A crime is committed and it is up to a local beat cop, Hilda Brown (Harper Nguyen), to untangle the web of outlandish lies and alibis of this group of friends turned suspects. They each bring their own flavour of comedic charm to the story, played by Oliver Hughes, Lachlan Ives, Henry Kent, Lucy Nunn, and Katie Walsh. This cast went from strength to strength as an ensemble with their impeccable timing and chemistry to elevate the clever writing and direction of Parker Horne and Adam Snyman.
Horne and Snyman are a fantastic duo if this is what they can produce together. They skillfully embraced the traditions of murder mystery and over-the-top farce that is equally witty and ridiculous. There is undeniable energy from the fusion of these two and the cast that is bold, crude and delightfully absurd.
Beyond the strong performances, the technical elements of the show add depth to the comedic mayhem. Lachlan Ives’ sound design enhances the physical comedy, punctuating key beats with amusing sound effects and encapsulates the classic smooth jazz soundtracks of the best 80s murder mystery TV shows. The minimalist set, advised by Henry Kent, allows for seamless transitions between scenes, keeping the focus on the actors and their physicality without unnecessary distractions.
Turder, She Wrote is a delightful addition to The Blue Room Theatre’s lineup, offering audiences a chance to indulge in a cheeky and boisterous theatrical experience. With its rapid-fire humour, engaging performances, and well-executed technical elements, it is no wonder that their season is already sold out.
Reviewer Note: Tickets for this review were provided by the theatre company.
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