Murder She Didn't Write, stopping off for a four-day run at Royal & Derngate on a lengthy UK tour, treads the now well-worn path of an improvisational evening of theatre entertainment. Unsurprisingly, from the title, this show from Degrees of Error's takes a murder mystery as its inspiration, with the story influenced by ideas from the audience each evening.
Due to this, Murder She Didn't Write and a review are very much an individual affair. What I saw in my evening at the theatre will differ significantly from what the audience will see the following evening; however, the fine performers will remain.
The touring cast, in no particular order, is Lizzy Skrzypiec, Rachael Procter-Lane, Peter Baker, Caitlin Campbell, Stephen Clements, Douglas Walker, Harry Allmark, Rosalind Beeson, Sylvia Bishop, Emily Brady, Alice Lamb, Sara Garrard, Peta Maurice and Matthew Whittle.
For my performance, Skrzypiec, Procter-Lane, Baker, Walker, Bishop, and Clements were on stage alongside pianist Sara Garrard and unseen show editor Rob Kershaw.
From my viewing, Murder, She Didn't Write appears to have a neat and regular format to help create each evening's murder mystery. As Agatha Crusty, Skrzypiec takes the detecting reins from the outset, eliciting an occasion, a central clue, and alongside Jenkins, a random audience member each night, an eventual victim and, beyond the interval, a murderer.
The carefully adhered-to structure allows the story to develop perfectly; our characters are coloured, as in Cluedo, and overly caricatured individuals. Scene setting and character development in the first half, heading to the murder at the end of the act. Then, after the interval into the suspects, the big reveal is made up on the spot by Skrzypiec as Agatha and the show's director.
For my performance, the story was
The Case of the Pointy Pet Rock, set at the KCCC, or Kettering Cushion Conference Centre of all things, created from a seeming moment of misheard confusion in the audience, which I feel started with a Fishing Conference and continued to Fishing Cushion, and then just cushion. It turned out to be perfect, though, as the highly talented cast weaved a tale of absurd mystery and piled on the cushion puns and some warped storytelling.
It is magnificent fun, ridiculous, and genuinely hilarious at times, and the ease with which the team collaborates to tell the story is unnervingly impressive. Equally fun is often how the cast members drop one another in it, be it suggesting collective names for groups of animals, a cushion song, or your life during the war told in rhyme; the performers and we are having tremendous fun.
The staging is simple, with Justin Williams's set evoking the period with a staple country house decor backdrop. At the same time, Adam King's lighting remains uncomplicated to cover all events but also cleverly blacks out to create an end-of-scene with mostly impressive timing. Later, red lighting depicts the inevitable flashback moments as well.
So, against the murder mystery policy, I can happily reveal Graham was the victim, killed by rocks in his throat and Willy in his mouth. Yes, you had to be there to understand that, and it sure was great being there.
Murder, She Didn't Write is a sublimely silly and funny evening of entertainment, and based on my encounter, anyone seeing this will be in for a definite treat of a show. You can then go back the next night for more, but different, of the same.
Skillful, stockingly silly and constantly entertaining. Cracking entertainment.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance reviewed: Monday, 14th April 2025, at the Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton.
Murder She Didn't Write is on stage at Royal & Derngate until Thursday, 17th April 2025.
Photos: Pamela Raith Photography
