NAILSEA
PEOPLE
A musical comedy about two socially awkward friends with a morbid fascination for murder that plays out on their podcast is at the Bristol Old Vic until the end of September.
Diction delivered at machine gun speed this is an old fashioned whodunnit with a modern twist and Northern roots.
The multi-tasking casting is a joy to behold as is the swivelling on recon office chairs using modern technology and a backdrop straight from The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime and its canine slaying.
In the audience on press night was optical technician Andy Bollan.
He said: “Murder podcasts are so hot right now!
“For marginal misfits Kathy and Stella their podcast is the only bright light against the dark background of Hull.
“Famed murder writer, Felica Taylor is coming to town. Her latest book details a series of grisly beheadings that rocked Hull years before.
“The murder community is rife with rumours of her new nationwide podcast, could this be Kathy and Stella’s big break? Felicia’s grisly murder stops all of their dreams.
“Now it is up to Stella and Kathy to solve the murder and keep their podcast dreams alive.
“This is a show that pops and sparkles from the start.
"Bronté Barbé and Rebekah Hinds play the leads with vulnerable hardness.
"The supporting actors especially Jodie Jacobs and Imelda Warren-Green handled their multiple roles and singing parts magnificently.
“The script powered through all the emotions like a bubble-wrapped knockout punch.
“Overall, this is a fantastic show full of music and drama neatly covered with a huge helping of laughs.”
Andy went with Madeline Middleton and Renée Butler who added these observations.
Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder
Madeline said: “I loved the murder victim who plays all her characters extremely well but I didn’t catch all the words.”
Renée said: “I was loving it and thought it was hilarious and the cast is extremely talented it is quick and witty but the plot could be difficult to follow if you don’t catch every word.”
Nailsea People loved the cast, set, costumes and band but missed the surtitles you get at the opera as couldn’t process a bit of the dialogue but knew it was funny as 90 per cent of the audience LOL.
For us the standout performance was award-winning actress Jodie Jacobs who played a brash author, her sister, her brother, hologram, detective and more. Thought she was a dead ringer for PR person Sarah Moolla which made me smile.
Found it had to believe that the 10-year-olds friends met playing in a sandpit but then this is funny fiction with a forensic delivery.
From the creative team behind Fleabag, Baby Reindeer and A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) it is on stage at the Bristol Old Vic at various times until Saturday, September 30.
May go again and watch a captioned performance!
To book online tickets from £12 go to https://bristololdvic.org.uk/.
