Accomplice

Prepare to be bamboozled. This murder mystery is fiendishly dedicated to deception before you've settled into your seat. Even your sacred playbill isn't completely on the level. Then prepare to be royally amused. The jokes and the sexual give-and-take come fast and furious. Surprises grow and multiply. Most fascinating, the sands are frequently shifting. Which two characters are plotting foul play? Who is being double crossed, and who is the murder victim? Even where we are is subject to abrupt change. Gradually, we realize that we might be at Duke Courtyard Theater, about to witness a real murder. What changes most dizzyingly is who we're watching. If you've seen Rupert Holmes' The Mystery of Edwin Drood, you'll remember that this playwright revels in thinking outside the box. Actors onstage might settle in the audience, and someone sitting next to you might suddenly become a part of the drama. Just one nagging problem when we realize that anything can happen. With imaginations running wild throughout the house, it becomes increasingly difficult for the playwright to exceed or even meet our expectations. Holmes is clever enough to acknowledge the problem in his dialogue, but there isn't much he can do about it. Thankfully, we get a production that is tautly paced and spandex tight. Chip Decker's set is one of the most impressive that he's built -- and the part that reveals a backstage area is wonderfully masked. With one exception -- a character who should be older and more imposing -- director Janet Isenhart casts beautifully.

Mike Collins is superbly focused in all his incarnations, and Daryl Wood Gerber proves to be capable of lightning-quick transformations. Mental agility is essential for keeping up with Accomplice and guessing who the title character is. With its sudden shifts, this comical thrilla will keep you jazzed and alert.