Review: THE PERFECT MURDER, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, March 29 2016

Back in February 2014, I watched the first touring production of Peter James' novel The Perfect Murder starring Les Dennis and Claire Goose as unhappily married couple Victor and Joan Smiley. Following this, Dead Simple - another of James' books - was adapted for the stage; here testament to his appeal and ability to make the text jump off the stage and stand up dramatically. The Perfect Murder is now playing across the UK again but this time with an ingenious casting move. Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace, or Kat and Alfie from BBC's Eastenders, are playing the two leads.

Never have I seen the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry so busy and with so many first-time theatre-goers. Star casting is often moaned at and sometimes rightly so but Richie and Wallace's chemistry is remarkably rare and the strength of their acting performances can blow many out of the water. Here the producers have pitched it exactly right and it has brought a new audience into the theatre, which should be commended.

All of the creative team remain the same as the 2014 tour including direction by Olivier award-winning Ian Talbot and design by Michael Holt. The set consists of three separate playing spaces: Victor and Joan's living room/kitchen downstairs and their bedroom upstairs along with prostitute Kamila's bedroom on the opposite side of the stage. Kamila's story seems rather disjointed and sometimes unnecessary earlier on in the play but in typical Peter James style, all is not quite as it seems and it pulls together at the end with a shocking twist. Mark Howett's lighting is predominantly natural but has some physiognomies of the horror genre which, when working perfectly alongside the soundscapes/effects, provide the desired effect on an audience member.

I stand by my previous opinion when I say the first half is fairly slow to begin with. It seems that the witty script takes president over progression within the story. However, when the stakes are higher, it succeeds two-fold. The dialogue is very snappy and provides a lot of material that married couples in particular can relate to. The laughs are greater than the scare factor overall but this makes for a balanced and more accessible watch. The few moments that do make you jump and take your breath away are simple but very effective.

Popular soap characters Kat and Alfie are a far cry from Joan and Victor portrayed here. Richie is almost unrecognisable in his first appearance; his persona is played on a fairly neutral level until later on when his dark, sinister side is revealed. It cannot be denied that the working relationship Richie and Wallace have from one fictional couple to another is still equally as palpable. Wallace in particular carries the show with her expert comic timing but also her abilities to make an audience feel. Great supporting performances also come from the charismatic Stephen Fletcher as Don, Simona Armstrong who returns as Kamila and Benjamin Wilkin as star of the books Detective Constable Roy Grace.

The Perfect Murder plays at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry until Saturday 2nd April.

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