Review: The Comedy Of 1950's Murder Mystery Movies Comes To The Stage With New Australian Musical, THE DETECTIVE'S HANDBOOK

Tuesday 26th April 2016, 7:30pm, Hayes Theatre, Potts Point

The latest offering at Hayes Theatre, THE DETECTIVE'S HANDBOOK is a well crafted parody of 1950's crime movies, filled with beat poetry, musical pastiche and slapstick comedy. The new work, written by Ian Ferrington (Book and Lyrics) and Olga Solar(Music), was selected for a full production to be presented at Hayes Theatre as part of the 2015 round of the New Musicals Australia initiative.

The mystery of the murder of two Chicago policemen plays out on James Browne's (Set and Costume design) movable monochrome set that allow the space to transform between the police precinct, crime scene and various places that the clues take the investigating detectives. The black stone walls and wrought iron windows give the impression of greater depth and are outlined with white mortar joints and highlights that glow under Sian James-Holland's (Lighting design) blue lighting.

Browne has dressed the detectives in the iconic suit and trenchcoat 'uniform' favored by classic detectives through the last century, including brimmed hats inkeeping with the 1950's men's fashion. World weary Detective Frank Thompson (Justin Smith) is differentiated by a degree of scruffiness to the knot of his tie and the illfitting slouch of his clothes in comparison to the younger, wet behind the ears Detective Jimmy Hartman (Rob Johnson), tidier in his tailored Sunday best. With Chief of Police (Tony Cogin) and Officers Maria Spade (Lara Mulcahy) and Peter Hammett (Christopher Horsey) in uniform throughout, the variety and color comes from the various Femme Fatales that fill out the story. Sheridan Harbridge switches between Miss Maria Harper, Miss Maria Rains, and Miss Maria Novak with changes in pencil skirts, peplum jackets and a liberal dose of tartan to go with the various hairdos but unfortunately has distracting orange neon nails, incongruous with the images portrayed. In contrast to Harbridge's bombshell looks, Lara Mulcahy, as the Polish Deli owner and Matchmaker Mrs Maria Kowalski is dressed down in shift dress and worn out cardigan.

Composer Olga Solar has drawn on 1950's jazz, performed behind the scenes by the four piece band of Keys (Michael Tyack), Percussion (Ben Hibbard), Woodwind (Ross Harrington) and Bass (Elliot Hitchcock) to create a bright sound. The text is clever as it captures the retro detective movie language whilst still being fresh and original. The lyrics are presented in a combination of rap style beat poetry and song, clearly capturing the often corny simplistic rhyme and alliteration. Johnson as wide eyed young Detective Hartman is given songs in contrast to Smith's grumpy alcoholic Detective Thompson's spoken poetry. The fastest pace beat poetry is presented with tight clarity by Harbridge as the variety of women that hold the clues to the mystery and she is also given more traditional ballads to showcase her range of ability.

Director Jonathan Biggins keeps the pace of the 90 minute one act work moving well and has ensured that the caricatures remain the focus. The pace and the writing keeps the characters rather simplistic, in keeping with the style as a farcical parody but each is drawn out to ensure that the sterotypes are clear. There is wonderful comic timing from all the performers and fabulous little expressions such as the incredulous looks in response to Detective Hartman's blundering misunderstandings and references to the title's Detective's Handbook. The physical humor is presented well along with the subtle inclusion of 'shelved' jokes that slip back in throughout the show.

In addition to sending up movie and television crime dramas, THE DETECTIVE'S HANDBOOK also pokes fun at the traditional musical where people randomly broke into dance to pad out a show. Lara Mulcahy and Christopher Horsey (also Choreographer) provide amusing tap dance interludes, a style not used as frequently in modern musicals, including an incredibly well timed squad room scene. Whilst Mulcahy and Horsey's routines are presented cleanly and with a conviction that the Officers believe they would break out in dance whilst filing reports, some of the other dance routines are presented with the impression that the performer isn't really convinced that the character would break out into an old Broadway style routine.

THE DETECTIVE'S HANDBOOK is a fun new work, presented cleanly with a liberal dose of physical and verbal comedy and a wonderful example of a new Australian Musical. It is fabulous to see Hayes Theatre and New Musicals Australia providing support to Australian creators, encouraging the development of new Australian work.

THE DETECTIVE'S HANDBOOK

Hayes Theatre, Potts Point

21 April - 7 May 2016

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