Berkshire on Stage

I’ve said many times and must say yet again: I love theater about theater. Confetti Stage’s current offering, a murder mystery about thespians, seemed like a promising production to me. The show concerns a bereft playwright who has gathered five former colleagues to read scenes of his new play–scenes that seem a little too similar to events that happened one year ago leading up to the death of their play’s leading lady. It’s a dubious premise and a far-fetched plot (including such implausible events as a woman kissing her lover right after getting her make-up just right and actors moving stage furniture when and how they’re told to), but I wasn’t expecting much realism from a play titled Rehearsal for Murder. Instead I went to this play hoping for a campy and thrilling murder mystery melodrama. Rehearsal for Murder didn’t turn out to be quite what I thought it would be, but there was camp and there was mystery and there was, of course, a murder.

The play opens with Ken Kasch as playwright Alex making his way onto the open stage. From the moment he steps on stage, Kasch leads the show with the kind of charismatic stage presence that makes the audience forget themselves and believe that Alex is alone in an empty, closed theater. The play relies heavily on Alex’s monologues to explain bits of plot, and these monologues never come off stilted or overwrought (though they certainly might coming from a lesser actor). Kasch is such an excellent actor, in fact, that there are moments where his raw emotions seem a tad out-of-place for such a contrived story. Nonetheless, Kasch is consistently a joy to watch. Marissa Lounello, playing the murdered leading lady Monica, is likewise a joy to watch. She is beautiful and regal, and manages to portray just enough depth to keep her character interesting while still maintaining her classic diva veneer. In regards to both her character and the play she is acting in, Lounello fully understands the assignment.

The cast overall is a mix of different levels of acting talent and skill, and the staging elements are a mixed bag. The set is bland but serves its purpose. The costumes are decidedly more impressive, especially Monica’s sumptuous red dress and the leading actor’s quietly pompous ensemble. 

Some of the less polished performers overuse their hands and are noticeably sloppy as they move around the stage. Director Vincent James should have taken pains to encourage more honed performances from the minor characters. But it’s clear that James has great vision for this production, and he certainly knows how to capitalize on some of the script’s best moments, so I am willing to look past a bit of bumbling from minor characters.

To be sure, there is plenty of talent in the supporting cast. Victoria Nieves is savvy and slightly brassy as the producer of a Broadway play. Karen Daniels plays the inexperienced understudy turned ruthless leading woman with an understated edge that reveals itself at well-chosen moments. Campbell Higle struts the stage as the self-important leading actor with a combination of charisma and haughtiness that makes the character hard to love but impossible to hate. Similarly charismatic in a very different way is Tobias Martin as the comedic relief actor, who is also incidentally the comedic relief character. And finally, with minimal stage time, Ella McGrail gives a thoroughly memorable performance as a humorous caricature of a stage manager. 

On the other hand, Keyonn Everett’s performance as Frank Heller is disappointingly ineffectual. It is a shame, since his character guides many of the twists and turns of act two. The role calls for an actor who can command the stage in solo moments and change his demeanor as quickly and dramatically as the script changes; unfortunately, Everett falls short in all of this and, as a consequence, the ending of Rehearsal for Murder isn’t nearly as thrilling and enjoyable as it could be. 

All told, Rehearsal for Murder isn’t perfect, but it has enough going for it to provide an enjoyable evening for a forgiving theatergoer. Go in with a critical eye and the expectation of polished, professional-looking theater and you might be disappointed. But if you go into Rehearsal for Murder with the expectation of some laughs, some drama, and a thoroughly compelling mystery, then this show will hit the spot!

Confetti Stage presents Rehearsal for Murder by D.D. Brooke, directed by Vincent James, runs February 28 – March 9, at the Albany Masonic Hall, 67 Corning Pl, Albany, NY 12207. Cast: Ken Kasch as Alex Dennison, Peter V. Miranda as Ernie, Brooke Stanley as Sally Bean, Marissa Lounello as Monica Welles, Ella McGrail as Loretta, Sean T. Baldwin as Lloyd Andrews, Victoria Nieves as Bella Lamb, Emily Crist as Karen Daniels, Tobias Martin as Leo Gibbs, Campbell Higle as David Matthews, Jeremy LaDuke and Ella McGrail as Police Officers, Keyonn Everett as Frank Heller, and Jeremy LaDuke as Santoro. Produced by Marissa Lounello and Sean T. Baldwin. Stage Manager: Rachel Stewart. Light design by Laura Darling. Sound design by Sean T. Baldwin. Costumes by Marissa Lounello and Sean T. Baldwin.

Performance dates are February 28 – March 9, with shows Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday 2pm matinees only. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for students, and $8 per person for groups of 8 or more. Runs approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes with one intermission. Contains depictions of sexual coercion, physical assault, discussions of suicide, and a gunshot. Tickets are available at the door or online at https://confettistage.org/buy-tickets/.