Friendship amidst foul play
Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder ROUNDABOUT @ Summerhall (Venue 26), until 28 August ★★★★
Kathy Baxter and Stella Carmichael present a true crime podcast from Kathy’s mum’s garage in Hull. (Tagline: “See you next murder!”) They hope they can bring about a change in their fortunes by interviewing Felicia Taylor, the glamorous author who solved the notorious case of The Hull Decapitator. However, when Taylor herself is murdered shortly after giving them the brushoff, they realise they have no choice but to solve the case themselves.
Written and directed by Jon Brittain (Baby Reindeer), with music and lyrics by Matthew Floyd Jones (Frisky and Mannish) – who last collaborated on the Fringe First-winning A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) – it’s fast-paced, clever, funny and bang up to date. Performed by a cast of five, led by Bronté Barbé (Kathy) and Rebekah Hinds (Stella), in the oven-like Paines Plough Roundabout, their energy is as undiminished as the audience’s enjoyment.
All the favourite murdermystery tropes are here: the police inspector who resents the intrusion of amateurs; the podcasters becoming part of the story they are trying to tell; the blind alleys and surprise revelations; the fact that Kathy and Stella are briefly considered suspects. The dialogue is slick and the songs come thick and fast.
While the murder plot grows increasingly silly, the show remains grounded in the friendship of the two women: sweet Kathy gradually overcoming anxiety to discover her passion in life, and mouthy Stella, who will face down anything apart from, it turns out, the prospect of losing her best friend. Thanks to this, this show is not just funny and irreverent: it’s also got heart.