The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery – Royal Court, Liverpool

Writer: Gerry Linford

Director: Chris Mellor

Reviewer: John Roberts

Following the critical successes of both The Miracle of Great Homer Streetand Yellow Breck Road, Gerry Linford returns with his latest production The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery, a scouse whodunit, that is so funny it’s almost criminal.

Following the exploits of sofa sleuth Eddie (Paul Duckworth), his wife Trish (Pauline Fleming), university student daughter Phoebe (Olivia Sloyan) and her friend Josh (Michael Peace) as they investigate the strange doings of their quirky and slightly over-sexed neighbours Phoebe (Olivia Sloyan) and Martin (Liam Tobin).

Played upon Foxton’s brilliant revolving set, the murder mystery spans out across twelve consecutive “episodes”, each one bringing you more clues as to what is actually going on at Menlove Avenue and each one seemingly filled with more laughs, if you don’t die by the murderer, then you may from trying to catch your breath between the fits of laughter.

What, perhaps is more interesting than past shows, is how well the characters are really grouped and explored through their pairings, It seems director Chris Mellor has got it so right with this cast. Fleming and Duckworth fit as tightly as a brand-new leather glove. Sloyan and Peace perfectly complement each other but it is the comic capers and clowning of Tobin and Hardy that really steal the show. Here the pair are given almost free reign to clown through the show, often to the amusement of other cast members and indeed the audience.

It’s tricky to write a review, where you don’t want to give too much away without ruining the show due to spoilers and with The Menlove Avenue Murder Mysterythis is one such show. So, all that this reviewer can say is get yourself along to the Royal Court for a riotous and highly enjoyable evening that anyone with a brain would kill to get a ticket for.

Runs until 21 September 2019 | Image: Activate Digital