Town Theatre’s production of Over My Dead Body by Michael Sutton and Anthony Fingleton is a delightful throwback to some of Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries. While it takes place in the 1990s, it evokes the feel of old-school whodunit plays. Skillfully directed by Allison McNeely, Over My Dead Body is a comedy-mystery that borders on farce, with some wonderful physical and situational comedy moments. There are several great twists in the plot that make the production even more fun. The entire cast was fun to watch.
The story is set in England and revolves around three elderly founding members of a mystery/crime writers’ literary club: Dora Winslow (Kathy Hartzog), Trevor Foyle (Bill DeWitt), and Bartie Cruikshank (Clayton King)—collectively known as the “Murder League.” A new, young writer, Simon Vale, has joined their ranks, and they are not fond of him. Vale makes fun of their old-fashioned style of writing, while the League mocks his inappropriate language used to describe his murders. The play spoofs the whodunit genre as the three members of the “Murder League” attempt to plan and execute the perfect crime to boost their careers—only to have their old-fashioned methods go comically wrong.
As the married couple Trevor Foyle and Dora Winslow, DeWitt and Hartzog bring their wonderful chemistry to full force. Having played opposite one another many times over the years, the pair are always a delight to watch. Their timing and delivery are spot-on. Clayton King’s Bartie adds a delightful dose of eccentric energy to a character who is shrewder than he first appears.
Wayne Wright’s portrayal of Vale strikes just the right mix of snobbery and cockiness to make you distrust—and dislike—his character. The club’s butler, played by Steve Reeves, adds another layer of comedy to the production. His slow-moving, dim-witted portrayal of the aging servant is fun, and even more commitment to the character would have been welcome. The murder victim—Simon Vale’s utterly despicable American literary agent, Leo Sharpe—is played by the imposing Sam Chamberlain, who dives into the role with great enthusiasm and makes you dislike him from the moment he appears.
Rounding out the production is the star-struck detective, Chris Kruzner, whose portrayal of the slightly dim-witted investigator, reminiscent of Jacques Clouseau (The Pink Panther), is spot-on. His self-assured partner, Sergeant Trask, portrayed by Chavous Camp, is also fun to watch. Together, the two make a strong comedic pairing.
Big kudos to the entire set, costume, and prop crew—Nathan Jackson, Jeremy Hansard, Julian Harley, Shannon Willis Scruggs, and Jodie Harris—whose work was very well done and served the production beautifully. Town Theatre is lucky to have such a wonderful space. A few technical elements could be tightened up, but it is live theatre, after all.
If you’re looking for a fun, lively evening at the theatre, this one is for you. Over My Dead Body runs Thursdays through Sundays until Feb. 1. For tickets or more information, visit towntheatre.org.