It is rare that the victim of a murder mystery watches the investigation unfold alongside the audience, and rarer still that he seems mostly ok with it! This odd premise for Under The Table makes for an entertaining take on the murder mystery genre by Sean Guy, hitting all of the necessary beats with a few added twists.
Staging a murder mystery can be a delicate operation, made more demanding still with a comedic overtone. Though there is the occasional technical hitch and missed comedic opportunity, this production by FUPAS provides an intriguing and enjoyable night. Director Alana Lymn has assembled a cohesive cast and successfully staged a production that both delights and fascinates its audience, evidenced by the many who were fervently trying to solve the murder during the interval!
Brandon Calmiano as Edward Hush had all the confidence required for an overly casual, fourth wall breaking ghost who provides frequent commentary on the investigation of his own murder. His laidback attitude effectively set the tone for this sometimes-serious-but-mostly-fun performance.
Brad Lowe is perfectly stern as the no-nonsense Sergeant Melpo, providing the ideal “straight man” to the more outrageous characters as they constantly hinder his progress in solving the murder. In the few moments where he gets to have a bit more fun, he also demonstrates a solid grasp of comedic timing.
Jessie Hill as the incompetent and cheeky Officer Thalia, the most frequent foil to Melpo, relishes in this comedic role, bringing a wonderful sense of whimsy to every scene. Her portrayal of a (very) bad cop was a particular highlight. With just a touch more diction, her many gags would land even more consistently with the audience.
Of the three suspects, Grace Gwiazdzinski stands out with her convincing portrayal of the seemingly heartbroken Margaret, lover of the victim. She deftly navigates the at times complicated format where each suspect presents their version of the night and constructs an intriguing and multi-faceted character.
Aiden Fitzgerald and Bonnie Hains as Himmat (Edward’s business partner) and Ophelia (Edward’s sister), respectfully, do an admirable job portraying their strong-willed characters, playing off each other well as they try to defend themselves and divulge their individual conflicts with Edward. Both maintained consistent projection and energy across the two-hour performance.
Annabel Whitford was an audience favourite as the sleazy oddball Doctor, hamming it up with her physical comedy in each of her appearances and landing some fantastic one-liners.
There were a few moments of awkward blocking and staging and missed chances for physical comedy, with some actors playing to the aisle instead of the audience, a few clunky entrances and exits, and a lengthy scene change – but these are easy fixes! The score, notably composed by Lymn, enhanced the mood and flow of the performance and was played right on cue, if not just a tad loud. The lighting design was mostly simple but effective, utilising harsh light for interrogation scenes and a different colour for each suspect’s version of the events.
Despite a few understandable opening night jitters and hitches, this latest offering by FUPAS is an entertaining and commendable achievement for a young company that continues to deliver on its promise to provide students with invaluable opportunities to pursue their passions in the performing arts. Keep it up!
