This is Not a Murder Mystery | Drayton Arms Theatre

Canonbie Productions’ This is Not a Murder Mystery immediately immerses us into the all too familiar chaotic world of a dressing room on opening night, complete with wacky wall art and costumes flung about the place. The set would not be complete without the ambient lighting from James Denny and Mudlark Creative. We sit opposite three chairs at a dressing table and act as the other side of the dressing room mirror, except this mirror seems to somewhat see through- this show fittingly treats the fourth wall as a sort of sheer drape.

Sebastian, the director/writer character played by Johnny Davidson, enters with intensity and meticulously decorates the space with flowers and suspiciously sets back the clocks. This sequence is shortly followed by some toilet humour which eases us into the kooky onslaught of jokes and quips we are about to be pummeled with for the next two hours. Helen Bang, Rosalind Blessed and Laura Morgan bless the stage with punch as they enter and each bring with them an unapologetic and naturally hilarious character, each melodramatic and fabulous in their own right.

They portray three actors preparing for their big murder mystery opening night, who are completely unaware that the investigation is about to turn to them. When they discover that their unbeloved stage manager has a knife in her heart, Peter Rae’s theatrical detective enters to interrogate the women, but what a mistake it would be to assume these ladies aren’t already experts in (stage and screen) detective work themselves.

Rae has captured the heart of a classic, farcical murder mystery comedy, despite the meta jokes and millennial references that bring the show into modern day. Particularly the end of act one is marvelously built up to and ends leaving you excited for the characters to experience the conundrum unfold. Without a doubt this show owes its success to the comic timing of its three leading ladies as well as its writing.

The direction from Helen Bang is also a standout and her fierce attention to detail as an actor and a director is strongly felt in every moment. The show is pacey, quick and has no room for error, I can do nothing but praise the whole cast for their dedication and velocity throughout.

The narrative is fun and keeps you on your toes. On the odd occasion that a joke fell flat (an unavoidable fate), the energy in the room was immediately restored by some quip or reaction or other. There was a constant chemistry on stage, particularly between Bang, Blessed and Morgan, that could crack even the moodiest of audience members. The fun they are having onstage is infectious and will make you leave the theatre wanting more.

This is Not a Murder Mystery runs at Drayton Arms Theatre until 07th June 2025.

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Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Lily Renshaw