“Murderers”, Schenectady Civic Playhouse, Sunday, Feb. 1

‘Murderers’ draw laughter at Civic Playhouse
By Michael Eck
Special to the Times Union

SCHENECTADY - Riddle Key Luxury Senior Retirement Living Center
and Golf Course.

It’s a great place – to die!

Jeffrey Hatcher’s darkly funny “Murderers” is set at Riddle Key, a thankfully fictional little village in sunny South Florida.

Like his popular “Three Viewings,” “Murderers” is a collection of monologues delivered by people a little, well, different, from the rest of us.

Schenectady Civic Players is presenting a nifty production of the play on South Church Street through Sunday.

Director Barry Corlew has chosen a fine cast and set them loose on an excellent set designed by Duncan Morrison (and realized by Matt Macarevy).

In reality there’s not much to “Murderers.”

Since the piece consists of monologues, the only interaction comes from characters woven through each speech, including Riddle Key’s all-important house physician, who never seems to notice just how many folks are croaking.

Randy McConnach takes the pole position as Gerry Halverson, a self-described ne’er-do-well who hopes to inherit his mother-in-law’s fortune.

Well, Spiff isn’t exactly his mother-in-law because he never married Laura. Then again, they’ve been shacking up long enough to qualify as common-law, but does that even still exist.

Details, details.

In an odd bit of social engineering that is thought up simultaneously by Spiff and Gerry, they marry, so that he’ll inherit the estate without any taxes going to the government.

They hitch up at Riddle Key to wait out Spiff’s bad kidney, but when the doctor says she’ll live longer than expected things get weird. Really weird.

And McConnach does great work keeping things weird.

Lucy Stickler has a different problem, and its name is Margaret Faydle.

Faydle was her husband’s mistress 30 years ago and now she’s invading Riddle Key with old Bob still on her mind.

In Hatcher’s script all the players admit they’re murderers, but they never kill who you expect them to.

And Pat Brady, as Lucy, does a fine job with the smoke and mirrors leading up to – someone’s – death.

Jean T. Carney closes the show as a serial killer who dislikes the term.

Carney is Minka Lupino, the receptionist at Riddle Key as well as its avenging angel – and how.
Lupino, who is inspired in her offings by mystery writer, and Riddle Key resident, J.G. Garland, can’t even remember how many people she’s killed – each of them because they neglected, abused or exploited a “seasoned citizen.”

Carney is charming as the chipper chopper and her unexpected non-comeuppance is a typically Hatcherian twist.

Don’t expect thrills from “Murderers.” It’s not that kind of play.

Expect laughter instead, and you won’t be disappointed.
Michael Eck is a frequent contributor to the Times Union.

Stage review
“Murderers”
Performance reviewed: 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Schenectady Civic Players, 12 S. Church Street, Schenectady
Running time: 1 hours, 45 minutes.
Continues: 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: $15
Contact: 382-2081; http://www.civicplayers.org


Source: blogs.timesunion.com