A murder in 2 parts… well it was for me! It really was murder at the press night, as my first visit to The Ambassadors Theatre was sadly cut short. Due to this I think I possibly had longest interval in theatre history! But not to worry I finally returned to The Ambassadors Theatre to piece together the final clues in this gripping ‘Who’s Dunnit’ murder mystery.

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! is a quirky upbeat musical full to the brim with catchy musical numbers. The story follows the adventure of two best mates from Beverly, in Hull, Kathy and Stella, who in their spare time (which is most of the time) record a true crime podcast in Kathy’s mum garage. Since a young age, both have been obsessed with all things murder, which leads us to the beginning of our time with these unlikely heroines. We’re first introduced to Kathy & Stella, whilst they’re recording the end of a new episode for their podcast, which includes a ridiculously catchy number, “Kathy & Stella’s Murder Podcast”. However, it’s not long till they’re embroiled in their own murder mystery, when their idol Felicia Taylor, a true crime author is decapitated by the hull decapitator, a crime which she solved years ago or a is there a copycat on the loose?

Written by Jon Brittain (also co-director), with music by Matthew Floyd Jones, this show dissects the ramifications of internet sleuths injecting themselves into investigations. They cleverly capitalise on society’s evolving obsession with true crime documentaries and stories, but they also delve into the themes such as social outsiders, friendship and self-acceptance, which to me is at the core of this tale. These themes make it all too easy for us to care and root for our amateur detectives. Partnered with Fabian Aloise, also co-director & choreographer, their work takes the audience on a thrilling, highly energetic show which impressively blend big diva ballads, macabre songs about corpses and surprisingly majestic wheelie chair-ography.

At the helm of the show is Kathy and Stella, who are heavily co-dependant on each other; this show acts a lover letter to their friendship as we follow them through the highs and lows in their friendship. Bronté Barbé and Rebekah Hinds create a beautiful dynamic with their authentic chemistry, making Kathy & Stella’s long-standing friendship feel real. This made it hard to witness their slow decline, harsh exchanges and insults lead to them eventually falling out. But it was equally gratifying to see them reconcile at the end – this is a testament to the amazing casting done by Annelie Powell CDG, who did a superb job.

The first half of the true crime detective duo is Kathy, a shy, anxiety ridden woman suffering an identity crisis. As we get deeper into the play, we start to witness her excitement for life come back in – a morgue – of all places. Kathy is beautifully portrayed by Bronté Barbé. Barbé range is an admirable feat shifting from a timid, dare I say almost sidekick to confident woman, who finally finds her people, besides Stella. Her powerhouse vocals are on full display in her big number “Never Felt so Alive”, where she gets to flex her impressive pipes. Then there’s Stella, the second half of the true crime detective duo. Stella is initially shown as a confident woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. But once you start slicing away her layers, we come to realise she is a deeply guarded woman who struggles to let strangers into her life. Stella is perfectly played by Rebekah Hinds who phenomenal comedic timing is combined with a gorgeous, soulful voice. Hinds masterfully blends her smooth voice with quick witted one-liners and jokes and exaggerated facial expressions. Throughout the show Stella hides her insecurities behind a tough persona; this is bought to the foreground in ‘The Approval of Strangers”, where we’re shown Stella is preoccupied rechecking comments left by fans. The song is beautiful yet a stark reminder of today’s society and sadly how relevant the song is. As it shines a spotlight on the pressures we face in the growth of social media.

The supporting cast was small yet impressive with a 5 additional actors, who were on impeccable form throughout the murder saga. Seamlessly, switching from an array of important people in Kathy & Stella’s life and investigation. Masterfully making each person distinctive and unique. Elliot Broadfoot and Imelda Warren-Green give faultless performances as Kathy & Stella’s overzealous fan. Warren-Green however, gave stand-out performance as Erica, an unnerving superfan.

Cecilia Carey was given a vast space to fill on The Ambassador Theatre stage and she did not disappoint. Set in a garage, she cleverly utilised the space with multiple set pieces, which were multifunctional. The idea to have the garage as the blueprint of the show was highly effective, especially including things such as the iconic evidence board, with the red string.

Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder! Is an upbeat, fun night at the theatre! It’s a musical full to the brim with odes to iconic British sleuths, highly popular TV series like Line of Duty and most importantly Lorraine Kelly. Brittan’s ingenious writing will undoubtably appeal to UK audiences, especially the northerners. However, with that in mind I do wonder how a show that’s so quintessentially British would translate across the Atlantic – I hope we find out. As I believe Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder! deserves a lot longer life then it’s tragic victim Felicia Taylor.

Help Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder! at The Ambassadors Theatre, stop the killer before the case turns cold on Saturday, 14th September.

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