The best performance I’ve ever seen by the FVHS Theatre Department, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 is a pure joy to see. Intricate and detailed set designs provide a certain authenticity in the play, while the secret passageways and trap doors keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The sound effects paired with the radio set only enhanced the production even more! Beautifully crafted costumes established the time period and developed the individual personalities of each character.
Each and every actor provided a top-tier performance. Catie Beck, as Helsa Wenzel and Katerina, amuses the audience with a consistent German accent and expressive gestures, while Robyn Couch truly embodied the nervous socialite that is Elsa von Grossenkneuten. Michael Peters donned a heavy accent as a New York cop in his first-ever theatre performance, and Michael Rowe adopted various accents and personas, adding to the comical confusion and surprise of the plot.
The developing love story between Nikki Crandall (Chelsea Harvey) and Eddie McCuen (Michael Flores) warmed the hearts of all and gained many laughs. Sam Cummings as the arrogant director Ken De La Maize and Sarah Shamaa as an overly dramatic producer characterized the stereotypical personalities of those behind-the-scenes on Broadway and in Hollywood. Zack Billetter and Julie Ruck, the Hopewell and Roth composer and lyricist team, add the final, crucial components of a Broadway musical, with their zany, off-beat personalities and habits. All in all, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 was a production not to be missed, filled with murder and mayhem—guaranteed to keep you laughing the whole way through.
For information about upcoming Theatre productions, visit www.fvhstheatre.com; Almost, Maine is the next show this season, a guaranteed winner!
