Local theatre review: it’s ‘The Perfect Murder’
DANIEL HUTCHINSON Even if you don’t make a habit of watching plays I would recommend you head down to Centre Stage Taupo¯ ’s latest production ‘The Perfect Murder’.
This is a particularly dark comedy that will have you squirming in your seat from the first minute.
It weaves sex, betrayal and comedy in a way that will get you laughing your arms off one minute and deeply involved in someone else’s domestic the next.
The hapless couple at the centre of the play - Victor Smiley played by Don Shanks and Joan Smiley, played by Jenni Hill - are fabulously twisted and downright unlikeable. But also hysterically funny.
Alluring Polish sex worker Kamila Walchek is played fantastically well by Emily Sullivan.
Peter Moore plays taxi driver and ‘‘lover’’ Don Kirk and he literally throws himself into the bedroom scenes with huge gusto. Serious and unflappable detective Roy Grace is played by Robert Steven, who makes a great first foray into acting with his key role.
The play is directed by Sharon Shanks and she has managed to build the suspense right until the very end.
The mystery deepens and the plot twists and turns, leaving the audience in suspense throughout.
I’ll definitely be attending more shows like this in the future.
There are still tickets available for Sunday [2pm] and Tuesday [7.30pm] from CentreStageTaupo.co.nz