Playwright Monk Ferris has a way with words. He explores the consequences of hearing only fragments of a conversation and coming to the wrong conclusions in the riotously funny Let's Murder Marsha, currently on the boards at PowPAC.
Director Shelley Hale's cast has near-perfect comedic timing as they straight-facedly give their lines. Marsha, a consummate murder-mystery reader, overhears her loving husband discussing a birthday surprise for her. She interprets the discussion with his interior decorator as a plan to murder her. She then enlists her neighbor to formulate a poison potion to kill her husband and his alleged lover. Add to this mix her maid, her maid's boyfriend, who is a cop, and a surprise visit by her mother. Ferris' fun with the English language pours flawlessly.
Michele Guisti's Marsha is properly scatter-brained with the inability to tell reality from fiction. Guisti has a flair that works well for her role, from her hair style to her costume to her bearing. She gives us a perfect characterization of a person who immediately jumps to conclusions without any analytical thought.
Dave Hibler is Virgil, Marsha's accomplice. He plays a shy, unassuming pharmacist neighbor in the posh New York apartment building. He is a delight to watch as he gets drawn into a murder plot, which includes Marsha's ploy of romance. Ah, the stuff of pulp fiction.
Husband Tobias is played by Chris Armour. He gives the appearance of a very successful man totally in love with his wife. He decides on an outrageously expensive gift (a seaplane) for his wife and has enlisted Persis (the very convincing Kaly McKenna) to make decorating changes to it.
Marsha and Tobias have a not-too-smart maid, Bianca (Katharine Tremblay). She mixes a mean martini; she pours the gin into the shaker and circles once with the vermouth bottle tightly capped. Bianca also drinks amply to be sure that her martini is perfect. Her boyfriend, Ben, played by Shane Roberts, is a cocky young cop who displays just about as much smarts as lovely Bianca.
Lynette, Marsha's very proper mother, is very nicely portrayed by Joan Westmoreland. She is a concerned mother with a marvelous sense of humor. Under Hale's able direction, this cast seems totally right. Each member gives the just-right stereotypical interpretation of their role. They all manage just a bit of looniness, with Guisti as the chief loony.
Producer Debbie David also propped the set. Assistant Director Amanda Dali stage manages and runs lights and sound. Sabato Fiorello's set and set dressings work well, with a definite flare that Marsha would put into her home. Peter McGuinness' lighting is crisp and clean. Lou Alliano's sound works well.
Let's Murder Marsha is just fun. The cast is sure to please you. The wordplay and obvious misinterpretations are a joy to listen to.
