A Very Beastly Murder ⭐⭐⭐

“I say! There's been a murder! The Famous Five grew up and grew apart. When Dick, now a hardened PI, gets in over his head, he turns to his sister Anne for help. Do they have what it takes to solve the crime? A British film noir, full of gangsters, intrigue and lashings of tinned pineapple.”

Direction is clear and effective, providing a solid framework for the story and making creative use of the space. The production knows where it wants the audience to look, and the staging keeps the story moving without becoming overly complicated.

The set is pleasingly simple, relying on a handful of basic props to establish the different locations. It proves that you don't need an enormous set to create a convincing world, particularly when the performers are willing to do some of the heavy lifting themselves.

Costume is one of my favourite aspects of the production. I always enjoy it when a company fully commits to a costume aesthetic, and this cast absolutely does. There are some particularly lovely details, including the beige jacket worn by Dick, which adds considerably to the characterisation. The whole company embraces the style of the piece rather than treating the costumes as an afterthought, and that commitment makes the world feel much more complete.

Lighting is nice and dynamic, but I particularly enjoyed the moments when the production stripped everything back and used nothing more than the torches in the performers' hands or the lamp on stage. Those moments were incredibly effective. Rather than adding another theatrical layer for its own sake, the lighting drives the story forward. It creates atmosphere while keeping the audience focused on the characters. Sound works in much the same way. It supports the noir atmosphere and helps establish the world without becoming the main event. And there are some seriously good underscores.

The book is a really nice and engaging one. The central mystery keeps the story moving, and enough humour is woven through the plot to maintain the lightness this sort of adaptation needs. At times, however, I could have used a bit more. There are moments where the story could dig a little deeper into its characters or give certain developments more room to breathe. But overall, it is a solid and enjoyable script.

The performances are lovely, with the company playing off one another extremely well. The two of them have great chemistry, and they clearly understand the tone of the production. What I particularly enjoyed was how they created recognisable versions of these iconic characters while still bringing something new to them. These aren't simply carbon copies of the Famous Five we already know; fresh touches give the characters a new lease of life.

A Very Beastly Murder is a charming piece of theatrical fun. It doesn't reinvent the murder mystery, but it doesn't need to. The combination of Famous Five nostalgia, British film noir and ridiculous comedy makes for an entertaining hour. There are moments where I wanted a little more from the writing, but the strong chemistry between the cast, committed costumes and creative use of lighting keep the production enjoyable.

A Very Beastly Murder plays at Pleasance Jack Dome until the 30th August at 13:20 and has a run time of approximately 60 minutes.

Book tickets for A Very Beastly Murder https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/simply-beastly-murder