The World’s Most Boring Murder

Hilarious hijinks and morbid mysteries abound in Fernando Buzhar Segall’s new play at Players Theater. The World’s Most Boring Murder is anything but boring; it’s a madcap farce offering plenty of laughs and loads of entertainment.

In a small, quiet town where not much ever happens, Inspector Wagner (Sheridan Stevens) is delighted to find an actual brutal murder has taken place, giving him a chance to solve an a big time crime and become like the heroes of the detective novels he’s always loved. With the help of the devoted Officer Scott (Rebecca Ho) and the oft abused but ever determined Recruit (Krishna Doodnauth), the ill-prepared and over-eager inspector sets out to tackle the case and write his own true crime novel.

The comedy in the show comes strongly from three sources – the writing, the physicality, and of course the performances themselves. Segall’s script is hilarious and witty, and director Patrick Swailes Caldwell’s staging brings brilliant layers of physical comedy and keeps the pacing perfect. The cast is a strong ensemble and work together well. Stevens, Ho, and Doodnauth are a tight trio with hilarious delivery, timing, and physicality. There’s an established rapport between performers and the characters portrayed, giving a great sense of what the daily dynamic is between this team of protectors. Rounding out the cast are Ashley Everhart and Catherine Waller; between the two of them, they make up the rest of the town, each actor portraying perhaps another half a dozen characters aided by simply costume pieces and accessories. Each actor has moments where they get to steal the show – Stevens narrating noir style, Ho monologuing about her upbringing in a traveling circus, Waller fighting with herself as two different townspeople – and they all do magnificent work on stage.

Running at just under two hours, the only critique is that the script feels like it could be a bit shorter. It’s not overlong but it does feel like it continues past where you expect it to end by a bit. The pacing is quick and it’s not a drastically long run time but even so it does feel like it could be trimmed.

So much of the show evokes noir films. The suspenders, shirts, and jackets making up the wardrobe of the cast, the music and sound design, the details of Inspector Wagner’s office, and Wagner’s inclination to narrate events all add to the impression. Vincent Gunn’s set and props say a lot with brilliant detail, complimented by Cadwell’s costumes that are so suggestive (Cadwell also did the sound design). Asa Lipton’s lights not only help with creating a feel for space, they’re used brilliantly for comedic effect as well.

The whole team clearly brought a lot of creative effort and talent into creating The World’s Most Boring Murder. It’s a hilarious and eventful ride that will keep audiences entertained through every amusing twist and turn.