Review: A Fine Kettle of Fish, Old Red Lion Theatre

It is not uncommon for flatmates to have minor mysteries to solve, usually things like ‘Who broke the glass?’ or ‘Who ate all the leftover pizza?’  In A Fine Kettle of Fish, written by Charles Harris and part of the Old Red Lion’s Fresh Fest new writing festival, there is a much more serious issue to uncover: ‘Who is a murderer?’

In their shared university accommodation, it is fortunately not the corpse of one of the flatmates that is discovered, but that of the kind-hearted Poppy’s (Amrita Managat) beloved pet fish. This was no natural death: a bath bomb was used to pollute the waters of the fishbowl. With nobody owning up, it is down to the group to start an investigation (and multiple arguments) as they look for clues. Whilst the assertive April (Tia Shivpuri) tries to comfort Poppy, the socially conscious Toni (Grace Carroll) and overzealous Jim (Neo Merrell) spearhead the search, whilst laidback Max (Harris) just wants to chill and charismatic Russell (Jaden Hamilton) tries to keep the peace. Many shocking secrets are uncovered, which make their progress ever more challenging.

As writer, Harris has perfectly captured the spirit of the mystery drama, whilst using the focus on younger characters, who can remain uninhibited in their natural location, to present a fresh and vibrant take on the genre. The flatmates hold nothing back from each other, and the cast energetically bring to life the range of heightened emotions of friendships and animosities. Watching the sparks fly between them is as entertaining as the progressing mystery, which is constantly bringing on new twists to challenge perceptions and keep you guessing. Each character has their positive and negative traits, so there is no obvious suspect to immediately dislike. As with all good detective fiction, the story also plays fair with the audience; after the secrets and identity of the murderer are revealed, we can look back and recognise the clues which were subtly presented along the way.

Directors Senam Akpokavi and Brock Warren have embraced the youthful vibrancy, keeping up a fast pace such that the cast are rarely motionless for long. Even when not talking or leading a scene, there are a range of reactive looks and gestures in support or derision of each other. The group are often split into two camps, with competing ideas of how to proceed; the overlapping dialogues and movements are moderated so that they are never overwhelming. This tone is frequently heightened by Poric Niekirk’s energetic music and sound enhancing key scenes.

To augment the visual interest, the costumes are as colourful as the characters, with the cast wearing tops which are cleverly coded to reflect the personalities. Poppy’s white emphasises her role as innocent victim, sporty Jim wears energetic yellow, wise Toni is adorned in purple, April’s red signifies that she is not to be trifled with, Russell’s blue represents his calming effect, and Max wears green like the ‘medicinal herbs’ he enjoys. The colour theme extends to the creative set design as well. The standardised furnishings of table, chair and sofa (doubling as a bed) enable the set to serve as the common living room and the multiple bedrooms visited during the search for clues. The set is quickly transformed into different bedrooms through a colour coded assortment of clothes, blankets and other items. Whilst the living room is lit neutrally, Niekirk‘s lighting bathes the stage in the appropriate colour as locations change.

This production features all the best elements of a murder mystery, whilst combining it with the heightened drama of its not-always rationally behaved characters. Both elements are well developed and performed to deliver good fun and thrills.

Written by Charles Harris
Directed by Senam Akpokavi and Brock Warren
Lighting and Sound by Poric Niekirk
Presented by Daft Productions

This show has completed its current run.