Stiffs & Shtick Civic Stages Wisecracking Whodunit In The Grand Tradition Of Classic Murder Spoofs
‘The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” which opens at the Spokane Civic Theatre on Friday, is not a musical comedy.
However, it IS a murder mystery about the goofy cast of a Broadway musical. And it most certainly is a comedy, sans musical.
Think of it like one of those wisecracking 1940s Bob Hope-Bing Crosby movies, or even more to the point, like one of those Neil Simon mystery spoofs such as “Murder By Death.”
When Interplayers staged this comedy back in 1989, I remember thinking that every old gag in the history of Hollywood, and maybe even vaudeville, had been thrown into John Bishop’s script, up to and including old jokes about drunken Irishmen. This show was actually developed in workshop in New York in the 1980s, with plenty of ad lib contributions by the actors.
The result is a show that has plenty of funny shtick, although not necessarily a lot of originality. It also has a lot of delicious satire at the expense of old Hollywood movies and the “show biz” mentality.
The plot is designed for maximum campy shenanigans. The cast and writers of a Broadway flop have assembled at the spooky Westchester estate of a wealthy backer. They are still reeling from the fact that not only was the play itself a bomb, but three chorus girls were murdered by the Stage Door Slasher.
They are trying to rehearse a new show, but evil doings interrupt the proceedings. The Stage Door Slasher strikes again, and again.
The plot then becomes like a giant (and nutty) game of Clue. The story is set in the parlor of the mansion, but it might as well be in the conservatory, with a lead pipe. Don’t even try to guess the way the plot will twist. It doesn’t twist so much as contort.
All you need to know is that, in grand Hollywood tradition, the mystery is solved in the nick of time.
John Simon of New York magazine called it “the intelligent person’s kind of nonsense.”
Clive Barnes of the New York Post wrote that “even the corn is succulently served.”
The show had a long run both on and off Broadway.
The Spokane Civic production is directed by Maynard Villers, who directed last season’s comedy-mystery, “Corpse.”
The ensemble cast includes Lei Broadstone, Lynn Brinckmeyer, Jhon Goodwin, Scott Finlayson, David Gigler, Susy Wasson, Eric Paine, Sallie Christensen, Troy Nickerson and Marianne McLaughlin.
`Musical Comedy Murders of 1940’ When: Opens Friday, continues Sunday, and Jan. 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, Feb. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. All shows are at 8 p.m. except Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Where: Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard. Tickets: Tickets are $14 adults, $12 seniors and $8 students. Call 325-2507 or (800) 446-9576 for reservations.