Review: Billy Mitchell's VILLAIN: DeBLANKS Offers Killer Comedy

What happens when you mix equal parts Murder, She Wrote with Mad Libs? You get Billy Mitchell's rib-tickling theatrical confection VILLAIN: DeBLANKS. Currently enjoying a residency at The Triad, audiences can catch the madcap hilarity on the first Sunday of each month through April 3, 2016.

Presented by Broadway veteran Brenda Braxton in association with R. Erin Craig and La Vie Productions, Mitchell has written and directed one of the best ways to spend an hour and some change in the city. At the top of the show, the audience is introduced to the ever-changing and star-studded cast. Then, the cast mingles with the audience to fill in the blanks in their scripts. Moving around the room, they ask for nouns, adjectives, numbers, and more. Once everyone's lines are completed, the cast returns to the stage and the fun really begins.

Mitchell's cleverly named characters are brought to life by through the individuality and artistry of each member of his cast. Since the performers get to add their own unique touches to these vibrant and wonderfully clichéd murder-mystery caricatures, you can be guaranteed to never see the same show twice even if somehow the audience given words were the same.

For December the cast featured Hunter Ryan Herdlicka as DeBlank's estranged friend Bob Frapples, Lauren Elder as DeBlank's business partner Lynn O'Liam, Bobby Cronin as DeBlank's chauffer Aaron Matires, Daisy Eagan as DeBlank's secret fiancé Fonda Jewels, Geneva Carr as actress Rhoda Pony, and Peter Filichia as film director Orson Buggy. The special media guest was Steve Schonberg of Center On the Aisle.

Yet, for this murder mystery, the star of the show is not really who did it. Instead, it's what will they say next? In addition to the audience generated words, adlibs and improv are encouraged, so there is no telling what may happen. And, that's the true magic in this recipe. For example, Eagan was committed to a delicious southern drawl for her version of Fonda Jewels, which made the character's speech patterns slower and each word more intentional than those surrounding her. Carr's Rhoda Pony was skitterish and jumpy, making her seem all the more guilty in addition to being wholly unpredictable. Elder's Lynn O'Liam was a smooth talking, sophisticated women of business who always seemed like she had something to hide. Cronin's Aaron Matires was earnest and wholly likeable, which made him seemingly the most unlikely to murder. Herdlicka's dry witted Bob Frapples was aloof and distant, making him appear to have questionable characteristics. Filichia's Orson Buggy was a slow-witted, humble man just looking to return to his former glory.

The comedic whodunit has been previously seen in LA and around New York, earning hearty guffaws and cheers every time it takes the stage. Upcoming casts at The Triad will feature Annaleigh Ashford, Ann Harada, Nick Cearley, Patrick Page, Paige Davis, and more. Also, Braxton and Mitchell proudly donate a portion of the proceeds of every performance to the Humane Society of New York.

VILLAIN: DeBLANKS offers audiences the perfect way to end a weekend with laughter and kick off a workweek with cheer. All you have to do is venture out to the Upper West Side's The Triad (158 West 72nd Street, New York) on the first Sunday of each month to be treated to some one-on-one time and improv from some of the theater world's best and brightest talents. For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.villaindeblanks.com or http://www.triadnyc.com.

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