A well-crafted whodunnit by a young, talented teamRating
Good
Club Mistero is a fun murder mystery set in prohibition-era New York. It is a slick crowd pleaser and on the evening we visited it got a standing ovation. The debut production of the Silver Stage Theatre Company, formed by recent Southampton Solent University graduates, Club Mistero has the youthful energy of a first production. It has been touring small regional theatres for several months and now lands at Theatro Technis as part of the Camden Fringe.
The plot is straightforward; a classic whodunnit in the Agatha Christie style, that all takes place in a sleazy 1920s nightclub with a semi-criminal owner and his flamboyant staff. The melodramatic characters will be familiar to any fans of the myriad films set in that era, especially tongue-in-cheek ones such as Bugsy Malone or Bullets over Broadway.
The owner, Frank, is a mobster and ruthless landlord. Played by George McLean, Frank has a violent temperament and a bellowing voice when he is angry, which is often. His wife is head dancer and unhappily married, emotional alcoholic Adeline, played by Evelyn Foy. The husband and wife engage in some shouty, Eastenders-style bickering. Borna Vitlov meanwhile gives an accomplished and energetic performance as Tony, a hardworking and hard-done-by barman with a violent past, while Sofia Romano does a fabulous comic turn as glamorous showgirl moll Bonnie. Niamh Boyle provides a more subdued and thoughtful tone as dissatisfied dancer Irene.
When a showgirl is found murdered, the killer could be any one of the five as they all have a motive and opportunity to carry out the crime. The challenge for the audience is to work it out before the climactic reveal.
Club Mistero packs a lot into its one hour running time, achieving the sharp comic timing needed to support the farce-like storytelling, and it includes some accomplished stage fighting and impressive jump-surprises. The 1920s costumes and decor (especially the beaded flapper frocks and lampshades) are impeccable, with enough glitz to make the evening feel special. Surprisingly, for a show set in a nightclub, music does not really feature beyond a few introductory notes.
The key to enjoying this production is to have a drink, sit back and let the fun begin. Don’t expect a deeper meaning beyond an entertaining night out. There is some genuine talent in Silver Stage and they deliver Club Mistero with confidence and commitment, determined to amuse and with their skills honed to deliver an hour of enjoyment.
Written by George McLean-Wade
Lighting and Sound Design by Niamh Boyle
Hair and Makeup Design by Sofia Romano
Produced by Silver Stage Theatre Company
Club Mistero has completed its run for Camden Fringe.
