Theater Review: 'Death by Design' at the Warner Theatre

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Patch contributor Nancy Sasso Janis

Death by Design is a mash-up murder mystery written by Rob Urbinati. The Warner Theatre is producing the play in the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre through Nov. 16.

The talented cast is under the direction of Jonathan Zalaski (“Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” and “Matilda.”) The young director notes that “the art of the murder mystery was, after all, defined by British culture and attention to detail, setting the standard to thrill, divert, and ultimately surprise.” Concord Theatricals calls the show a mix of the “brilliant wit of Noël Coward with the intricate plotting of Agatha Christie… set during a weekend in an English country manor in 1932.”

The director shares the basic plot in his program note. In this classic murder mystery combined with farce, an unlikely group of guests arrive at the Bennett estate in the remote village of Cookham in 1932 and all become suspects. The clever maid with a gory thirst for small town violence takes it upon herself to solve the mystery.

“The title alone–Death by Design–breaks convention by poking fun at the undeniable allure of a whodunit by pairing unlikely characters, interjecting hilarious turns, and revealing plot twists which threaten the very premise of your average murder mystery,” Zalaski writes. He has set out to cause his audiences to laugh in the face of death and dispel the pall of morbidity, and for the most part, he has succeeded.

The veteran community theater actress Marilyn Olsen shows off her impeccable comic timing in the role of the feisty Irish maid Bridgit. After playing Mrs. Hubbard in “Murder on the Orient Express,” she is perfectly cast in this important and fun role. Olsen, who is a PA in Waterbury by day, never disappoints with her performances, and she shines in this part. Is it coincidental that her character delineates a list of possible poisons alphabetically?

Gabriel Sousa, a playwright who started acting in college, plays the young chauffeur Jack. Darrell Cookman takes on the role of the master of the house, the playwright Edward Bennett. His most endearing lines involve rhyme. Cookman played the conductor in “Murder on the Orient Express,” Snyder in “Newsies,” and Da in “Once.” Christiane M. Olsen, an experienced actor and singer, overacts effectively as the actress Sorel Bennett, a lover of large hats. As a director, she received a Stephen Sondheim Award nomination for the Housatonic Music Theatre Society production of “Urinetown.”

David Macharelli returns to the Warner to play Walter Pearce, a conservative politician who may or may not have been invited to the country house. Macharelli is an artist, media producer and yoga teacher from Waterbury. Ron St. John III makes his Warner debut to play the radical Eric with a Scottish accent. St. John most recently was part of “Sweeney Todd” at Downtown Cabaret.

Adrianna Medina portrays the zany artist Victoria Van Roth in her second production in the Nancy Marine, where she made her stage debut in “Dracula” as Jane Harker. In her Warner debut, the young Jazzy Cores is the final cast member to make her entrance in the role of the nearsighted ingénue Alice. Cores most recently slayed the role of Judas in “JCS” at the Downtown Cabaret and Eva Peron in “Evita” at Musicals at Richter and it was an honor to witness her first appearance at the Warner.

Zalaski who is also responsible for the excellent original scenic concept. The open design which closely abuts the front row of the audience allows the entire audience to have a mostly unobstructive view of the lower floor of the British country house. The result is that the audience seated on the floor probably feels like another weekend guest in the home, while those seated in the stadium seats at the back of the house have a birds eye view of the action.

This new, wider arrangement of the Nancy Marine seems to include more audience seats that are closer to the stage area. The trade-off is that all ticket holders enter from the house right end of the rectangular arrangement (beneath the tech booth) and those at the far end would have to cross in front of the stage to get to the restrooms.

Renee C. Purdy has designed costumes that address the time period and help to define the characters. Lee Evans served as the technical director. Dustin Pfaender worked as the sound designer and Chris Lubik was in charge of the great lighting design. Marrianne Parks provided the brief choreography for Mr and Mrs. B. Melissa “PK” Toning-Kollwitz worked as the dialect coach. The recorded preshow announcements are done in the style of old-time radio and are quite fun. Don’t miss the detailed set decoration and props as you make your way to your seat and exit the theater. Gertrude Lawrence anyone?

“Prepare to cozy up to a murder mystery like no other” at one of the remaining performances of “Death By Design” at the Warner Theatre’s Nancy Marine Studio Theatre. “Expect red herrings, clever twists and the kind of laughter that echoes through the rafters,” although the laughter did not quite rise to that level on opening night. Nonetheless, there is much to enjoy in this high-quality production. The play is performed with one 15-minute intermission (after an important plot device) and runs about two hours.

Tickets are still available but limited. You can get yours at warnertheatre.org/death-by-design or by calling the Box Office at 860-489-7180 x1. If you already have your tickets, remember to add each one individually to your digital wallet! Please check your email for more information.

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