New Years’ resolutions come in all sizes and mostly deal with lifestyle choices: vows to lose weight, cut out carbs, or to exercise more. However, when you’re rich and bored and in the midst of a mid-life crisis, your resolutions may take license outside the norm.
And so it is with Playcrafters’ latest installment of “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody,” written by Ron Bernas.
On New Year’s Eve, the rich Matthew Perry (Andrew Maksymowych) who seems to have “more dollars than sense” has been known to make vows. Only this year, his pronouncement is more grandiose than ever. It seems that Mr. Perry is not satisfied with being just rich; he wants to travel the world sans wife Julia (Kimberly Hess) and live a jet-set lifestyle. A vow to murder his wife by year’s end is the premise of this family friendly murder mystery spoof that takes the physical comedy of slapstick and blends it with the live version of the game Clue.
Who-dun-it?That’s the question the audience will ultimately entertain as they witness the two-hour stage play that takes them on a farcical tale of miss-matched wits where everyone in the social milieu of the Perry mansion is getting knocked off one at a time. Yet Perry’s shrewd and savvy wife is always more than a step ahead of him as she manages to avoid his wily schemes.
“It has the element of film noir,” said Director Lori Maxwell of the play that won the Michigan Playwriting Competition and was first performed in 1991 by Grosse Pointe Theatre, Michigan’s premiere community theater, and has gone on to performances world-wide. “You’re not sure who is going to end up being the bad guy.”
Meanwhile, the Perry’s dim-witted daughter Bunny (Natalie Smith) is thinking of cancelling her nuptials to Donald (Eric Rupp) because everyone who’s invited to the wedding is now dead. Throw in Buttram (Michae Mogar), an emotional house butler whose hiding a secret and the cynical, bumbling Detective Plotnik (Ron Lake), who is fruitless in his search for obtaining any clues, and you have the comical mayhem and goofiness of the 1930s screwball comedies.
“The rehearsal process has been hilarious,” said Maxwell of the talented cast and crew. “As it is a farce, the physical aspect in the comedy (is such that) we’re trying not to crack each other up.”
The show is produced by Cathy Carroll and designed/crafted by Andrew Maksymowych and Jeff Maxwell.
“A delightful surprise…an evening of fun just on the proper side of slapstick.” – Lansing State Journal.
“Comedy packs laughs…a delightful play…a medley of laughs…the play has charm, and is really funny.” – News-Herald, Southgate, MI.
When you have it all, sometimes it’s just not enough. But the importance of love is something to consider no matter your social status.
If you go:Playcrafters of Skippack presents
“A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody”
at the Barn2011 Store Road @ Rt. 73
Skippack, PA 19474July 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25 – 8 p.m.
July 19 – 3 p.m.Tickets: $17.00
Info: 610-584-4005www.playcrafters.org
