Review: Terry’s Been Murdered!, Hen and Chickens

The murder mystery is a well-established genre which is full of familiar elements: a victim, an investigation, suspects and secrets. In fact, audiences are so familiar with these elements that many productions now adjust or subvert the formula to try and catch the audience off balance. Terry’s Been Murdered! takes a unique approach to this by presenting a murder mystery without a murder victim.

It has been a long time since old school friends last gathered to share the latest news in their lives, especially their successful new careers. Sensitive Susan (Ashleigh Jolley) is now a barrister, the charming Gabriel (Tom Farrance) enjoys being a chef, over-enthusiastic Ray (Jamie Myles) is a committed police officer, intellectual Nigel (Anthony Ford) is a teacher and married to caring vet Maria (Sophie Haas). When Susan receives a mysterious phone call to inform her that their old school friend Terry has been murdered and that one of them is suspected of involvement, the group is distraught, even though they had largely forgotten about Terry. Actually, they’d even forgotten that he was still on the invitation list and is sitting around the table with them. The bemused Terry (Archie Steele) can only watch as the group accuses each other, whilst ignoring his reminders that he is very much alive.

If the suspects’ careers sound like familiar archetypes featured in murder mysteries, this is very much the intention of writer Jamie Myles. This creative story faithfully follows through on the other traditional elements of the genre; the investigation, false accusations and twists all continue to function although there has been no actual murder. The lack of this usually critical component indicates that this production leans towards the comedic, with the personalities, conflicts and twists all dialled up to hilarious, exaggerated levels. However, it remains faithful to the principle that clues revealing the truth of each revelation are fairly presented all along. Myles even cleverly anticipates, sets up and debunks one potential reveal the audience may be anticipating.

In the visual medium, it is common for costuming to reflect the characters’ personalities or convey their jobs. However, it would also be very unusual for people to wear their professional uniform to a casual dinner, so for much of the time the cast are dressed in smart-casual shirts and trousers. Instead, the entertaining opening is used to showcase the suspects in a police lineup wearing their full work outfits (barrister wig and gown, chef coat and hat, etc). The fact that each then performs a personalised dance number is a statement of intent that there will be plenty of humour to come.

Director William Eden and Assistant Director Shyann Ong have embraced the nature of the constantly escalating drama and comedy, maintaining both the story’s fast pace and the cast’s high energy. The ensemble rapidly moves across the stage in support of or in fear of each other; reactive glances and looks shared between them reveal inner thoughts, to complement the sharp dialogue. The cast take clear delight in affectionately playing up the traits and tropes found in the genre, whilst also balancing the delivery of the drama.

The distinction between the more serious and comedic tones is heightened by Myles’s music design, which alternates from jovial to intense. Likewise, Ong’s lighting plunges the stage into a vivid red to reflect the heightened reality of the descent into panic and anger, before switching to normal as they calm down.

This production successfully brings a welcome, subversive, fresh take on the crime genre by removing what is expected, heightening it to extremes, and retaining its core values.

Written by Jamie Myles
Directed by William Eden
Assistant Direction, Lighting & Sound by Shyann Ong
Production & Script Supervision by Mikey Coffey
Music and Composition by Jamie Myles
Presented by Based on Originals

Terry’s Been Murdered runs at The Hen & Chickens until Friday 28 August as part of the Camden Fringe.