BY ALEC HARVEY -- THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS

It is a dark and stormy night ...

And a very funny one, too, as a motley crew of characters gathers at the home of Elsa Von Grossenknueten for what they think is a backer´s audition for a Broadway-bound musical. But some people are not who they seem to be, and before you know it, the theatrical family finds itself smack dab in the middle of “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,’ a madcap romp about a serial killer.

Think of every murder mystery and theater cliche in the book, and you´ll pretty much have this show down pat. It´s silly and predictable and, in the hands of director Stephen French´s first-rate cast, laugh-out-loud funny.

Front and center is the hysterical performance of Rachel Clevenger as Elsa Von Grossenknueten, played here as a cross between Georgette from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ and Charlie Sheen´s wacky next-door neighbor on “Two and a Half Men.’ It´s hard to write down just how funny Clevenger is. She´s flighty and nutty and oh-so-deadpan, and she elicits laughs almost every time she says something. (An innocent “Hello, everyone’ gets the biggest laugh of the night).

And Clevenger isn´t the only talent here. Almost from top to bottom, this show has fantastic comic performances, including Nick Crawford´s struggling comic Eddie McCuen, Lee Griner´s over-the-top composer Roger Hopewell (that Griner can barely play the piano only adds to the charm), Julie Meadows´ boozing lyricist Bernice Roth, Bates Redwine´s overly Irish Patrick O´Reilly, Kelsey Sherrer´s lovely ingenue Nikki Crandall, Ellise Mayor´s pompous Marjorie Baverstock, Gabrielle Metz´s German Helsa Wenzel and G. Dwayne Johnson´s uber-director Ken De La Maize.

Ulysses Petty does what he can with the thankless role of Michael Kelly, an unfunny cop in the midst of the lunacy.

Mindy Wester´s set, filled with secret passageways and closets you shouldn´t go into, adds to the atmosphere.

It´s a fun, fun evening, marred only by a second act that seems as if it´s never going to end. As the story begins unravelling, so does any bit of logic that was present, and by the time the show is over, it makes very little sense.

But that´s OK. It was enjoyable getting there.
.....
Bottom line: Review gets four out of five stars

BY ALEC HARVEY -- THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS

Birmingham Festival Theatre´s production of “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940’ runs March 4 through March 20. Tickets are $20 and are available at the theater box office, 1901 1/2 11th Ave. South, calling 933-2383 or going to www.bftonline.org.

  Director Stephen French answered five questions about the production:

  Why did you pick this show?

  It´s great fun! I first discovered this show in college when I played Ken DeLaMaize. I loved the broad characters and rip-roaring farce. I had been wanting to direct it for some time, and once I found out BFT had an opening in their season, I jumped on it. I love to make people laugh!

  
Can you tell us a little bit about it?

  The show takes place one night in December 1940 in a secluded mansion in Chappaqua, N.Y., where a director, producer, lyricist and composer are gathered for a backer´s audition. They are joined by a struggling comedian, a young ingenue, an Irish tenor and a rather bizarre maid. The audience soon finds out that this production team´s last production was plagued by the “Stage Door Slasher,’ who killed three chorus girls. The group becomes trapped by a blizzard, and, of course, people start dying. Hilarity ensues as this colorful bunch of “show people’ and the audience try to figure out “whodunit.’

  Who do you think will like this show?

  One of the wonderful things about this show is its appeal to an extremely wide audience. It really has something for everyone: physical comedy, sharp wit, a love story, puns, bad jokes, good jokes, delightful ‘40s period references and lots of murders!

  Anything else you´d like to add?

  I just have to say that I have been blessed with my dream cast and crew for this show. Each actor in this show embodies their role more than I could ever had hoped. As a matter of fact, I am constantly amazed at the talent that I have had the opportunity to work with here in Birmingham. The Birmingham theater scene is one of the best kept secrets in town, and it´s time that more people realized the variety of entertainment available without leaving town. Support local theater!

  What´s next for you or the theater?

  Coming up next at BFT will be a new ETC improvisation show, “Frank Chocula PI,’ directed by my friend Douglas O´Neil, followed by “Dead Man´s Cellphone,’ directed by the wonderfully talented Edward Miller. As for me, I have quite a bit going on. My next acting project will be as the Scarecrow in the Alys Stephens Center´s production of “Down the Yellow Brick Road.’ I am also directing a new TV show, “View of the City,’ featuring Christopher Davis and Nick Crawford. It´s a local comedy news and variety show which premieres March 14th on Charter 21 and online at viewofthecity.net. In addition, I am putting together an ensemble theater company called the Modern Renaissance Guild, which aims to blend theater with the broad artistic community in Birmingham through unique collaborations. Look for our first production this coming October!