Murder Most Foul

Whose Body? – Lifeline Theatre

Lord Peter Wimsey, featured in eleven detective novels and two sets of short stories, made his literary debut in Dorothy L. Sayers’ best-selling mystery, Whose Body? The British author introduced her amateur sleuth to the world in 1923, shortly after the end of WWI. Lord Peter is an unmarried aristocrat who, upon returning from his military service in the Great War, decides to occupy his abundant leisure time helping to solve crimes. Peter views his new pastime as a game. He fancies himself to be a more modern version of Sherlock Holmes. Together with his friend, Inspector Charles Parker, standing in as his Dr. Watson, the two gentlemen set about to clear the name of a sweet-tempered Englishman accused of murder most foul.

In Sayers’ story, Mr. Thipps is a mild-mannered architect who discovers a naked, dead body in his bathtub. Strangely, the only item the deceased wears is a pair of pince-nez. When Thipps is arrested by the boorish Inspector Sugg for the death of the mysterious, unclothed man in his lavatory, Lord Peter and Inspector Parker set about to prove his innocence. Coincidentally, Suggs had been working on another case involving the sudden recent disappearance of renowned financier, Sir Reuben Levy. The Inspector has observed some superficial similarities between Levy and the dead man in Thipps’ bathtub, and so he simply concludes that he’s solved both cases at the same time.

Because Mr. Thipps’ apartment is near a teaching hospital, where donated cadavers are dissected for medical research, Lord Peter and Charles suspect that the body in the bathtub might’ve simply been a student’s practical joke. However, when respected English doctor, Julian Freke, testifies at the inquest that none of the bodies had been missing from the hospital, the theory is thrown out the window. Wimsey and Parker, aided by Lord Peter’s faithful manservant, Bunter, set about to collect the necessary evidence that’ll disprove Inspector Suggs’ accusation and expose the true murderer.

Longtime Lifeline ensemble member, Frances Limoncelli has adapted this Dorothy L. Sayers’ murder mystery for the theatre. She’s already transferred several of the author’s other novels for the stage, including her Jeff Awarded adaptations of “Busman’s Honeymoon,” “Gaudy Night” and “Strong Poison.” It was only natural that Ms. Limoncelli would bring Lord Peter Wimsey to the Lifeline stage once more. She’s entrusted her script to Jess Hutchinson, the talented director of last season’s excellent adaptation of “The Man Who Was Thursday.” Based upon this pair of productions, Ms. Hutchinson seems to possess a particular knack for guiding exciting performances of English whodunits.

Hutchinson’s hardworking seven-member cast is incredibly talented, particularly the actors who portray more than one character. Making his Lifeline debut, Loyola University student John Drea is quite simply magnificent. His unique portrayals of both the dignified Inspector Parker and the agitated accused architect, Mr. Thipps, are so fully-defined and completely different, that it wasn’t until near the end of Act I that this reviewer figured out that Mr. Drea was playing both roles. Along with his costume, his physicality and accomplished accent, Drea’s entire demeanor completely changes for each character. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of this gifted, likable young actor in many future productions.

Joshua K. Harris, another newcomer to this respected Rogers Park venue, is one more chameleon actor. A familiar face at The Right Brain Project, Akvavit and Metropolis Theatres, Mr. Harris is appropriately churlish and crude as Inspector Sugg. He also seems to relish playing the humorously ugly American millionaire, J.P. Milligan, as well as the Coroner and a working class man named Piggott. He’s another actor to watch.

One more new kid on the block at Lifeline is Scott Danielson, seen here in the dual role of Bunter and Dr. Grimbold. Mr. Danielson’s impressive resume includes, among other shows, star-making appearances in “Bright Star,” with BoHo Theatre, “Nine to Five,” with Firebrand, and “The Full Monty,” with Kokandy Productions. At Lifeline he plays Lord Peter’s manservant and faithful friend, Mervyn Bunter, and does so with a perfect blend of compassion and command. Danielson nicely switches hats by playing the scholarly Dr. Grimbold.

Tony Bozzuto returns to Lifeline as the debonair Dr. Julian Freke. As this respected doctor, author and professor of medicine, Mr. Bozzuto is perfect. He plays a suave character who’s in perfect control of the world around him. His Dr. Freke sports a confident air and an upper class dialect that invokes the character’s superiority and a certain aura of mystery. In contrast, Bozzuto also skillfully plays a less-respected man’s man named Cummings, as well as another working class fellow named Bill Williams.

Although the story only features a handful of female characters, talented Lifeline ensemble member Katie McLean Hainsworth breathes life and a great deal of dry humor into the cameo role of the Duchess of Denver, Lord Peter Wimsey’s opinionated mother. She also briefly appears as Mrs. Thipps. Making her debut at Lifeline, Michaela Voit makes an impression, demonstrating her versatility by playing four very different roles. She’s delightful (although sometimes difficult to understand) as Gladys Horricks, the Thipps’ befuddled chambermaid. Then she turns the tables by portraying a fawning, aristocratic Lady Swaffam. When Ms. Voit returns to the story she is playing a Slavic woman waiting to see Dr. Freke; and later the actress steps into the role of a distraught Lady Levy, the wife of the missing Jewish financier.

That leaves us with William Anthony Sebastian Rose II, who plays Lord Peter Wimsey. This talented actor has been working all over Chicagoland. He was last seen at Lifeline Theatre in their excellent production of “The Man Who Was Thursday.” In this production, Mr. Rose is the main character, the audience’s guide and he holds the story in the palm of his hand. The character of Lord Peter, especially as paired with his manservant, Bunter, has been compared with Jeeves and Wooster, by PG Wodehouse. Mr. Rose starts off his performance as a bundle of energy, impishly conveying Wimsey’s rapture and relish at being involved in the detection of another crime. But unfortunately Rose’s enthusiasm, combined with an accent that often overtakes his words, makes the actor impossible to understand. His quieter scene in Act II at his mother’s estate proved that the actor could, in fact, control his vivacity. Perhaps after the opening night performance, Mr. Rose will settle into his role, slow down a bit and allow his audience to join him in Lord Peter’s fervor to solve the crime.

In addition to telling a thrilling, sometimes grisly story, played beautifully by a terrific cast, there’s a great deal of backstage  artistry that makes this melodrama so fine. As mentioned, Jess Hutchinson’s direction is spot-on. Scenic designer Alan Donahue has designed a gorgeous set, filled with Edwardian English detail, that provides a great deal of versatility in the intimate Lifeline space. The shadowy story is nicely lit by Diane D. Fairchild. Co-costumers Caitlin McLeod and Anna Wooden have clothed their characters with perfect period style. And Stephanie M. Senior has created an superb sound design that adds much to the mood and suspense of this British thriller.

Highly Recommended       

Reviewed by Colin Douglas   

Presented September 6- October 27 November 20 by Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 773-761-4477 or by going to www.lifelinetheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.