Pegasus Theater opened its 16th original whodunit in its trademarked, "Living Black and White" mode. Written by Pegasus founder Kurt Kleinmann, these murder mysteries have the look and feel of the black-and-white movies of the 1930s and 40s and are spoofs of that era's genre. All sets, make-up, costumes and props are in shades of gray.
The stock characters are Harry Hunsacker, bumbling detective, always played by Kleinmann; his erstwhile and able paid-by-the-hour assistant, Nigel Grouse (Ben Bryant), and their chief nemesis, police Lt. Foster (Chad Cline).
In Rehearsal For Murder, Lt. Foster has just inherited a guest inn in the Green Mountains of Vermont which is run by Rebecca Holmes, the housekeeper (Terry McCracken) and the groundskeeper, Seth Murdock (Chris Messersmith). The inn is hosting the famous New York writer/director, Adrian Garson (Scott Nixon) and his troupe of actors who are rehearsing for an upcoming Broadway opening when we learn that the leading man has fallen to his death from Eagle Point. Just as Lt. Foster arrives to investigate the murder, he is joined by Hunsacker and Grouse, and the hijinx begin. We also meet the two ingénues, Jenny Stewart (Alex Moore) and Alexis Eden (Leslie Patrick), and the ubiquitous Stranger (Gordon Fox). And, as in all good murder mysteries, everybody has a motive.
Kleinmann is his usual comic, bumbling sleuth, always just one brick shy of a load, and Bryant always comes up with brilliant ideas which Hunsacker claims as his own.
Bryant is a consummate and versatile actor having played the role of nephew to the character of Willie Clark in CTD’s production last year of The Sunshine Boys. Another outstanding performance is turned in by veteran actress, Terry McCracken.
A nice touch is the music provided both before the performance and at intermission as Sarah Powell and Patrick Detloff sing a number of songs by Cole Porter as well as the delightful number, "Baby It's Cold Outside," reminiscent of Esther Williams and Fernando Lamas in the movie, “Neptune's Daughter,” from the play's era.
And for late-night Judi Dench fans, the crooners delight with “A Fine Romance” and “As Time Goes By.”
Rehearsal For Murder is a must-see.
