Writer and Director: Adonis Kat
When Kirsty is found dead in the drama studio at Baleham University, four of her closest friends are put under the spotlight and interrogated. The only evidence left on the scene is a gun and Kirsty’s diary with some very telling entries about the people in her life.
Kirsty (Abigail Hebson) was the classic popular girl – she excelled at University and had a promising future ahead of he, the boys wanted to be with her, the girls wanted to be her. So, when her life is tragically cut short under suspicious circumstances, the police are determined to get answers. The suspects are her four closest frenemies and coursemates – Danny (Ryan J. Edwards), is a bit of a bad boy who lusted after Kirsty while she was alive, despite his jealous, spiteful girlfriend Fiona (Chloë Smiter Easton) being in their friendship group. Isabela (Sofia Andolcetti) is desperate to be top of the class, but while Kirsty is around, she has no chance and is set to disappoint her parents by coming second again. Finally, Stefanos (Adonis Kat), is a religious guy with a dark past, who hates that Kirsty knows his family secrets. As a group, nobody appears innocent – so it’s up to the police (and the audience) to try and figure out what really happened on that fateful evening.
Wasting no time, the show jumps straight into the action – which is normally great for a thriller drama – but with very little initial context on the characters it’s initially quite hard to connect with the group of five friends, and having a least a little bit of backstory is key in a ‘whodunnit’. Character placement slowly starts getting introduced as the narrative plays out, which has a lot of similarities to an episode of Pretty Little Liars – another show with a murder and four friends at the heart of the mystery. The storyline itself, written and directed by Adonis Kat, is very layered with lots of side stories and hidden connections between the characters. While this is commendable, it’s a bit too ambitious, and a lot of these side plots detract from the main story and start muddying up the plot, rather than helping it advance.
The ambitious nature of the show is also prevalent with the mixed timelines and flashback scenes that take place throughout both acts. There is a lot of jumping between timelines that initially, struggle to find their place in the show, but as the storyline begins to come together, it helps to strengthen the character relationships and provide intriguing potential motives for each of them.
Sound issues are a problem, on our night anyway. Many of the song lyrics are drowned out by overly loud songtracks or sound effects, which really hinder the overall storytelling. It’s a shame because the sound effects and background music are great, and would help to build up the dark, suspenseful mystery atmosphere if it were just a few decibels quieter! The battle between sound and speech is also apparent throughout the show, with some of the more softly spoken cast members struggling to carry their voices to the back of the room causing the audience to strain their ears in order to know what is going on in any of their scenes. Edwards and Hebson however, are fantastic at projecting their vocals, so the scenes that include their characters are clear and full of dramatic intent – perfect for a thriller musical. Their solo song Forbidden Love is a stand-out due to their well-honed vocals and commanding stage presence.
It’s clear that Kat has a lot of talent when it comes to writing a script, and the musical numbers and dance routines merged in between the storyline are an enjoyable addition. The show itself just needs some technical assistance, tightening up and some clearer direction for this to really take off.
Runs Until 13 April 2024
