Royal & Derngate Northampton – Thursday 26th October 2023
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
5*****
Crimes on Centre Court is not only a Whodunnit, but also a Howdunnit. With a small cast consisting of the astonishing Katriona Brown, Kirsty Cox, Emile Clark and Ben Thornton, this talented troupe converge to play countless characters which bring to life the story of Whombledun Tennis Club, its annual Tennis Tournament and the horrific deaths which mar this most prestigious occasion. A rip-roaring comedy farce set somewhere around the 1930s, not that it matters as the humour is timeless, it’s presented by New Old Friends a touring theatre company, Crimes on Centre Court skilfully sews together a stunningly entertaining story of murder most foul. It begs belief that there are only four actors. The quality quartet performed, sang, moved sets, danced and had us not only trying to work out who the murderer was, but also how they managed all the quick costume changes, not to mention having us in fits of laughter.
The tale begins with the death of Lord Knows, it transpires he is murdered by poisoned strawberries and cream. The suspicion falls upon the colourful members of the tennis club, but numbers steadily decline as the murder suspects are in turn, murdered themselves! Private detectives Perry and Penny Pink are called in by Lord Knows son Hugh, to investigate, and thus ensues a hilarious thriller.
Written and directed by Feargus Woods Dunlop, with movement direction from Sam Archer, set design by Caitlin Abbott and costume design by Connie Watson, Crimes on Centre Court is sensational. Nonstop entertainment, well thought-out humour, ranging from visual gags, alliterative wordplay and the most excitingly exquisite live tennis match you will ever see. Inventive, creative and a barber-shop quartet in the guise of singing hedges to boot, this is a show not to be missed! I got the sense that it attracts an older audience, but the genius of this show is that there is something here for everyone. It’s really quite clever. Murder, mystery, mayhem and even a little romance. Throw in some slapstick, appropriate breaking of the fourth wall, super sets, dodgy accents, literal hair raising and the best elevator/stairs/escalator performance I have ever seen, and you have a truly exceptional piece of entertainment, not to mention you get to solve a murder, what’s not to love? It would be a Crime to miss this.