Murder for Two

When Peter Novakovich reviewed this production for Stage Whispers in 2023 he wrote: “The Hayes Theatre Company production of Murder for Two is clever, witty, elegant, sophisticated, laugh-out-loud brilliant! My face hurt from laughing too much”. He followed that with a “clever, witty, elegant” review of this ingenious piece of theatre, covering the multiple theatre genres, musical theatre styles and the very talented actors and director who brought it to such sparkling life.

Peter’s review is comprehensive – and I won’t try to emulate his percipience or his way with words. Rather, I urge you to find it elsewhere on this website. You’ll see what I mean – and learn much about the writing, the music, the mixture of styles, the many characters and the tight, fast pace that is – must be – sustained.

What I shall write about is the initiative of bringing productions such as this from the Hayes Theatre to a wider audience. Murder for Two played for two sell-out seasons at the Hayes last year. It thrilled a host of audiences and critics. The Hayes is a small theatre doing great things. So, why not take some of those great things to another stage, a different audience?

The Riverside at Parramatta is a bigger theatre. (It will, soon, be bigger and better). It has a very strong, imaginative management team that brings a wide range of theatre to its western Sydney audiences: drama, opera, musical theatre, dance, circus, comedy, children’s theatre, concerts and movies. Those performances come from all over the country. It is also the base for the National Theatre of Parramatta that supports a host of innovative local playwrights, directors and performers.

What a treat then to have this crazy, stunning performance from the folk at the Hayes at the Riverside! The theatre was packed on both nights. And the audiences loved every minute of Gabbi Bolt and Maverick Newman’s revival their 2023 sellout performances.

I use the plural “performances” intentionally because Newman plays all the very different eleven suspects! Bolt is the ‘first response’ police officer, not yet a detective, but desperate to solve the crime before the real detective arrives. Hence the need for pace!

The production, the lighting and the acoustics work perfectly on the Riverside stage. And the action – wild, fast, funny – is perfectly timed. Whether singing, dancing, avoiding the invisible body on the floor or playing the piano (alone or together) Bolt and Newman make this clever mixture of murder, mystery and mayhem a veritable treat.

What a pity it was only in the west for two nights – but what a treat for theatre lovers to see such a brilliant production a little closer to home!

Carol Wimmer