Allen Contemporary Theatre presents Something’s Afoot
Something’s Afoot
Book, Music, and Lyrics by James McDonald, David Vos, and Robert Gerlach
Additional Music by Ed Linderman
Directed by Carol M. Rice
Music Director Jared Duncan
Choreographer Matthew Edwards
Set Design Scott Rice
Sound Design Jason Rice
Live Sound Operator Jeff Black
Lighting Design and Board Operator Kenneth Hall
Costumer Alison Kingwell
Props Sara Jones
Master Builder Bill Wash
Build Crew Bill Wash, John Farmer, Ken Nelson
Stage Manager Katy Hill
Asst Stage Manager Alisha Fowler Borton
Producer Eddy Herring
My thoughts on Something’s Afoot or…Death Becomes Them
A group of strangers arrive for dinner at the country estate of Lord Dudley Rancour in England in 1935 and one by one they start to be murdered in fiendishly fun ways. Sound familiar? That’s the plot of this musicalized farcical tribute to Agatha Christie. Think Clue meets Noises Off filled with almost every stereotype from British murder mysteries. It’s inspired silliness with catchy tunes, sexual innuendo, and witty dialogue with rampant double entendres.
Director Carol M. Rice knows her way around a farce and keeps Something’s Afoot moving at a fast clip with the exacting timing that farce requires. There are countless entrances, exits, pratfalls, and. of course, victim removals. Rice never lets the comedy ball drop and when you’re not laughing, you’re smiling.
The musical numbers enhance Something’s Afoot and Music Director Jared Duncan has the cast singing so clearly that you never miss one of the clever and sometimes “naughty “ lyrics. There’s also inventive and fun choreography from Matthew Edwards.
The set designed by Scott Rice is really another star of the show. Things fall apart, secret spaces abound, and keep your eye on that huge Chinese vase. There’s excellent lighting from Kenneth Hall, who with the help of Jason Rice’s sound design, create the thunderstorm that no murder mystery would be complete without. Alison Kingwell provides the period costumes that help to define the characters who cover almost every level of British society.
The cast of Something’s Afoot is more than up to the challenge of all the madness and the acting, singing, and dancing here is first rate. They have mastered various British accents and their comic timing is impeccable.
Lars Holmes, as Clive the butler who didn’t do it, has limited stage time, but impresses in his ‘short lived” (hint, hint) appearance. Bobby W. Hancock as Dr. Grayburn also has brief time on stage but looks and sounds every bit the proper British doctor.
Deborah Deverich is the society matron with a past, Lady Grace Manley-Prowe. One of the pleasures of the play is watching Deverich as Lady Grace’s past is revealed and her long-lost love “Shirley,” now known as Colonel Gillweather reappears. Deverich and David Colville, who plays the retired officer Gillweather, have a terrific duet, “The Man with the Ginger Moustache” and make an endearing couple.
Karina Barrett as Hope Langdon and Aidan Fenton as Geoffrey are another endearingly funny couple in Something’s Afoot. Barrett, who plays the flighty Hope with wide eyed faux innocence, would make an excellent Janet in Rocky Horror and Fenton, who gives Geoffrey an appealing exuberance, reminded me of a young Joseph Gordon Levitt. Barrett and Fenton are the perfect daffy, lovestruck twosome.
Jennifer Goebel is hilarious as the saucy maid Lettie romping around the stage with wide eyes in her short uniform and growing increasingly concerned as the body count rises. Flint, played with engaging swagger by Logan Gaconnier, is the randy caretaker of the estate and is attracted to Lettie. Goebel and Gaconnier make the evening’s bawdiest number “The Dinghy Song” a highlight.
As Nigel, the licentious nephew of Lord Rancour, Christian R. Black is stage dynamite. Black’s stage appeal is undeniable, and he brings wall climbing (literally), athletic energy to “The Legal Heir,” the song that opens Act II. I’m still not sure how he managed to sing while performing all the stunts he does in the number.
Tying all the madness together is Janie Breor as Miss Tweed, an artist and amateur detective. Breor is a marvelous comic actor and strong singer whose expressive face makes every nutty moment she’s on stage in Something’s Afoot a joy. Imagine Carol Burnett spoofing Miss Marple.
Something’s Afoot is a giddy, campy whodunnit that’s nonstop hilarity. It’s great escapist fun delivered by a top-notch cast. Death most definitely becomes them.
