★★★★☆
True crime is all the range right now. The genre has been satirised in film and television – so it was only a matter of time before musical theatre followed suit!
Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! began its life at Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year, before being updated and expanded for the festival this year – and updated and expanded once again for visits to Bristol and Manchester. It is now a full-blown musical, with a full band, set, and lots of pizzazz.
The musical follows two best friends, the title characters, who run Hull’s least successful true crime podcast. When their favourite true crime author, Felicia (BroadwayWorld Award winner Jodie Jacobs), returns to Hull after cracking the “Hull decapitator” case two decades ago, they take the opportunity to pitch their podcast to her in hopes of getting it on her true crime channel. Felicia is unimpressed and encourages them to think outside of the box. The girls are lost – until (spoiler) Felicia’s own decapitation, ironically, provides the perfect opportunity for them to find true crime fame.
Kathy and Stella could be considered a British, musical sister to the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. It is whacky, whimsical, and wickedly funny. There are countless twists and turns. It throws everything but the kitchen sink. Yet, you want more.
The musical wonderfully satirises true crime, including the exploitative, relentless determination of true crime authors and podcasters. But they aren’t the only ones parodied: in this musical, nobody is safe from the killer or the writers. The writers offer some hilarious critiques of the corrupt, incompetent police force.
A pop opera, the musical’s score is delightful, with not a dull number to be found. The second number, ‘Kathy and Stella’s Murder Podcast’, is as catchy and infectious as the plague; you will struggle to get it out of your head.
The songs are goofy and silly but there are some slower numbers which allow the two leads – Bronté Barbé (who we recently interviewed) and Olivier nominee Rebakah Hinds – to showcase their vocals, albeit not to their full extent.
The musical is incredibly heartfelt and touching. At its core, it’s a story about friendship. It celebrates companionship whilst addressing the difficulties of prioritising one person at the expense of other aspects of your life – including your own ambitions.
The acting deserves great praise. Barbé and Hinds are a joy to watch as the title characters. Jodie Jacobs plays four characters – Felicia and her siblings, Patricia and Horatio, and the police officer – as well as joining the ensemble for some numbers. Whilst her gorgeous, curly, blonde locks are distractingly distinctive, she characterises each character so well that you immediately know who she is playing (even without the accessories and props given to each character).
The ensemble, two of whom play a few named characters (the terrific TJ Lloyd and incredible Imelda Warren-Green), truly bring the show to life. Jacob Kohli and Sarah Pearson are super successful at portraying a great number of distinct background characters.
The show was just over an hour in its first run; it was an hour and a half in Edinburgh and is now two hours and 10 minutes with an interval. The expanded run time has no doubt allowed for a deepening of the relationship between the central pair but it also arguably overstretches the material a little. For instance, the flashback to the pair’s evolving friendship through school, which opens act 2, does not add so much, especially when we have already been told about the foundations of the girls’ friendship.
Kathy and Stella is a marvellous musical murder mystery which spectacularly satirises true crime with killer comedy and songs that slay. It would be criminal to miss it!
Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! runs at HOME until October 21 – the final stop of its UK tour.
Photo: Ellit Kurttz
JADAR 