Review: And There Were Not As Many - Melbourne Fringe Festival

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Wed 21 Sep 2016 - Sat 24 Sep 2016

This week I saw Corkboard Productions sold out show And There Were Not As Many at the Melbourne Fringe Festival . Staged in the upper library room of Highlander Bar , this show delighted a broad audience; young and old alike. You don't expect to see an Agatha Christie spoof at Fringe, but clearly there is audience demand for this style of show as all five performances sold out!



The Highlander Bar Library was the perfect setting for this 'whodunnit' play which is set in a English countryside manor where the roads are few and the power is cut off.

On entry a maid offers you French Onion dip and crackers just to make your feel welcome, and slightly suspicious of what could happen next. A cadaverous butler enters to receive guests to the impending meeting, or dinner; all of which is uncertain.

After a series of impeding knocks at the door, we meet the members of the party who are larger than life, and not to be trusted. There is the professional socialite couple; Thirsten and Marjorie Rounded-Vowel, who are nothing less than the odd couple, with Marjorie typifying an overbearing diva with an insipid and spineless husband. Also in attendance is the compulsive liar Dr Roger Bennet and Rosie Blackheart the serial widow.

The blood smothered body of Eric Barnsdale is found and accusations fly left, right, and centre. Suspects disclose incriminating gossip, incredulous excuses and alibis whilst the creepy Butler enters and exists with a variety of plausible murder weapons. The remaining party attempt to phone the police and find clues, but the telephone wires are cut, followed by a series of 'unexpected' blackouts.

Despite the ongoing foul play, 'incidental' accidents and dramas, Detective Ramble finally appears on the scene to investigate by pursuing dead end leads and ambiguous rabbit holes to resolve the case. Who is the murderer, and what was their choice of weapon?

Was it gun wielding Rosie Blackheart?
Was the victim poisoned by wine or French Onion dip?
What was that oversized teddy bear hiding?

Of course the show ends with a fittingly ridiculous reveal and peace is restored to the manor.

This show was a really good laugh and lots of fun and I hope it gets another run soon.

#comedy
#festivals
#city
#performing_arts
#quirky
#theatres
#september
!date 21/09/2016 -- 24/09/2016
%wnmelbourne