The Drayton Arms Theatre – until 7th June 2025
Reviewed by Ben Jolly
3***
High energy and frantic action bursts onto the stage as soon as the metaphorical curtain rises at The Drayton Arms Theatre in this whodunit farce.
The play is set backstage in a regional theatre, in the dressing room of three formidable, female actors of a certain age, right before the opening night of a new murder mystery. All hell breaks loose when a bombshell drops just moments before the play commences, as we’re nearing the end of Act 1 of our show. It all sounds a bit meta, doesn’t it? A conscious and effective choice by playwright Peter Rae.
While the overall plot of the piece is thin and wears thinner, the character work, “banter”, and dialogue between these women in the scene before the “exciting incident” are where the play truly shines. Rae has masterfully created three-dimensional characters who have their own distinct voices and aren’t afraid to speak up. Wonderfully portrayed by Helen Bang (who also directs), Rosalind Blessed, and Laura Morgan – there’s never a dull moment between these sharp-tongued titans, and the piece really holds up when they’re firing on all cylinders. Supporting the cast are the aforementioned Peter Rae, with Jonny Davidson and James Mackay, who seamlessly support in these often unsung roles throughout the frantic comedy but get a few moments of their own to shine.
The direction is slick and excellently paced. Bang has brought out wonderfully larger than life performances from every member of the company, but they can come across screechy at times; it’s as if they’re playing to a much larger house than this intimate space and some of the comedic beats can feel forced down your throat over allowing the audience to find the humour themselves. There are also repetitive gimmicks, and characterisations which opt for silly rather than genuinely funny. That being said, there are moments when the script dies down on laughs, and it’s up to the action of the play to reel in the comedy, which is successfully manages. This is a prime example of how the direction and writing can help each other out, with the play being at its peak performance when both are at their best.
This Is Not a Murder Mystery is the fast paced, high octane and at times hilarious farce it promises to be.