As delighted audiences fill Theatre 29 with belly laughs during the latest production, “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” at Theatre 29, the cast is laughing right along with them.
Director John Wright says the cast started clicking right away during rehearsals for the screwball comedy and the humor was infectious. He said it started during a scene in which Bunny (Lauren Schmelling), and Donald (Chris Fleischman) dip each other for kisses. The cast started ribbing Fleischman because Schmelling was a better dipper for the kiss then he was!
Jericho McWilliams, as the goofy Detective Plotnik, had to figure the best way to fall without getting himself hurt while still producing a gut splitting fall that the audience would buy into. Tom Highfill (Matthew Perry) had to practice with a blowgun to make an extraordinary shot across the stage into the wall. All of that goofiness kept the veteran cast in stitches most of the time.
Wright also remarked that Cheryl Gillon (Julia Perry) with great facial expressions and comedic timing and Marv Schmelling (the butler) are a pure joy to witness on stage.
“A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody”, homage to the screwball comedies of the 30’s and 40’s, is a hilarious year-long match of wits and the witless. After Mr. Perry cheerfully informs his wife he plans to kill her, Julia cleverly dodges Matthew’s devious murder attempts. Meanwhile, the Perry friends and staff are dying off mysteriously. It seems Matthew is successful in murdering everyone but Julia. Enter Detective Plotnik, a Sam Spade reincarnation who suspects everyone, but hasn’t a clue.
“A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” plays at 7:00 pm Friday and Saturday nights through June 2nd, with a Thursday performance at 7:00 PM May 17th, and a Sunday Matinee at 2:30 PM May 27th. Tickets are available now online at www.theatre29.org or by calling the Theatre 29 box office at 760-361-4151. Ticket prices are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors and military; and $8 for students.
Theatre 29 is located at 73637 Sullivan Road, (right around the corner from Barr Lumber) in the City of Twentynine Palms.
