Review: Murder For Two at Octagon Theatre

“…simply an absolute joy, one I’d happily watch over and over again…”

Murder For Two, Book and Music by Joe Kinosian, Book and Lyrics by Kellen Blair, Octagon Theatre

By Hannah Molyneux

Fun, fast-paced, and frivolous, Murder for Two is arguably just what we need in the world right now. It isn’t the most convoluted of murder mysteries, nor is it meant to be – the fun is in the chaos as one farcical event unfolds after another.

Following the murder of an author at his own birthday party, aspiring detective Marcus (Tom Babbage) arrives to question an eccentric cast of suspects (all played by Lucy Keirl). Time is ticking and ‘Detective’ Marcus must solve the case before his seniors arrive. This production is creatively re-imagined in a 1950s radio studio, with the audience invited in from the outset as the live studio audience and actively encouraged to laugh, gasp, and cheer as the story takes place. Even the lights are left just bright enough for us to feel that we are not merely observers but participants in the action.

The set is immediately intriguing and detailed. There is something enchanting about the live-ness of it, with most of the sound (with the exception of a showstopping song and dance number toward the end) generated onstage via a huge variety of props – think slamming doors, car horns, squeaky rubber chickens… It has a slapstick character that is both clever and joyfully silly, proving that fart jokes can be funny at any age. A grand piano takes centre stage, played with impressive skill by both actors (sometimes at the same time). There’s a real fluency in the passing of the piano-playing between actors that is testament both to the direction of Caroline Leslie and the partnership between Keirl and Babbage themselves.

It’s largely this partnership that makes Murder for Two such a success. Keirl and Babbage give such confident and assured performances that, as an audience, we trust them completely to deliver for us. The show is brought alive by quick-witted and hilarious improvisations, turning, say, an accidental fall into a running joke that’s shared by audiences and actors alike. “Immersive theatre, cool,” coos Keirl in one of her many character guises, knowing that they have the audience completely on side. They make it look not only effortless but also a huge amount of fun, creating the feeling that we’re watching something one-of-a-kind, never to be repeated. 

Individually, too, these are incredible performances. Babbage’s Marcus is wonderfully engaging and expressive while Keirl – bouncing between not-so-grief-stricken widow, French ballerina, bickering couple, and German psychiatrist among many others – fizzes with seemingly bottomless energy. Both give secure vocal performances across a range of musical styles and genres and Keirl’s vocal range in particular lends depth to her various characters. The physicality with which they move around the stage is astounding and utterly engrossing.

There’s a pleasing nostalgia to this production that feels fuzzy and familiar but never dated. It’s a perfectly whimsical escapism from the hardships of modern life and an ideal antidote to an age in which ‘art’ can be produced by a robot, creating instead a shared experience with connection, immediacy, and personality at its heart. It is simply an absolute joy, one I’d happily watch over and over again.

Murder For Two plays at Octagon Theatre until Saturday 27 June. Tickets are available here.

Hannah Molyneux is a proudly Mancunian writer and musician whose day job revolves around community engagement. She is passionate about community arts and the huge benefits they have for people and places. Hannah can most often be found enjoying the great outdoors or optimistically crafting with her children. You can read more of her writing here. You can find her on Instagram here.