Review: She's Beauty, She's Grace, She's the Center of a Murder Case: Rover Dramawerks presents LAURA

 

Laura

By: Vera Caspary and George Sklar

Directed by: Carol M Rice

Produced by: Rover Dramawerks

Audience Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission

Accessible Seating: Available

Hearing Devices: Not Available

Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available

ASL Showing: Not Available

Sound Level: Comfortable

Audio/Visuals To Prepare For: Firearms, gunshot sound effect, some violence, mild language

Reviewed by: Ellie Nunemaker

Few genres draw audiences in quite like a good mystery, and Laura offers exactly that: glamour, suspicion, and enough twists to keep everyone guessing. Rover Dramawerks' production of Laura brought the classic noir tale to the stage, blending romance and intrigue into a mysterious afternoon showing. 

The play centers on Detective Mark McPherson's investigation into the murder of Laura Hunt, who appears to have enchanted nearly everyone around her, which even in death begins to include Detective McPherson. As he pieces together conflicting accounts from those who knew her, what begins as a straightforward “whodunit" slowly transforms into a study of obsession.

Director Carol M. Rice does a fantastic job finding the balance between the play's moments of humor and the suspenseful atmosphere audiences expect from a classic noir mystery. Watching this production almost felt like being back at my aunt's house, curled up on the couch and getting pulled into one of those old black and white detective films where everyone has secrets and no one can quite be trusted. What impressed me most was Rice's handling of the mystery itself. Too often in productions like this, the audience can spot the killer long before the final reveal. That wasn't the case here. Rice guided the cast in a way that ensured every character remained a believable suspect, keeping the tension alive from beginning to end. By intermission, I found myself genuinely trying to piece everything together, mentally revisiting conversations and clues to figure out who could possibly be responsible. As someone who absolutely loves spoilers and usually can't resist the temptation to Google the ending, the fact that I managed to hold out speaks volumes about how invested I was in seeing the mystery unfold naturally. The direction allowed audiences the satisfaction of being swept up in the investigation right alongside Detective McPherson.

The show was presented beautifully both technically and through the ensemble of actors. Light design by Kenneth Hall dramatically lit every single moment in a classic 1940s noir way. Sound design by Jason Rice expertly established the atmosphere and emphasized moments of shock and awe. Costumes by Benjamin Taylor Ridgeway excellently complimented the actors, the era, AND the characters (which I have so rarely seen). Props, designed by Sara Jones, were suitable for the era and at some points shocking. For fear of spoiling I will not reveal which moments; you have to see the show to know how much credit Jones truly deserves because it is beyond words. Perhaps my favorite part of the technical design was the absolutely stunning set by Rachel Velasco. It tied in every technical element seamlessly and was so appealing to the eye. When I walked into the Cox Playhouse’s previous blackbox space I could not take my jaw off the floor. I found myself wondering how I had never seen one of Velasco’s sets before and praying I would see a million more.

The show was only further enhanced by the amazing ensemble of characters. There are a few characters that have little stage time but left my side in stitches the times they were on, one of them being Vivian Reed who plays the uptight Mrs. Dorgan. Reed is effortlessly charismatic and can bring ten tons of personality to a character with two scenes. Olsen, a fellow cop, played by Jay Matherly was also understatedly goofy. For a character with few lines, I was absolutely on my feet shouting for Matherly at curtain call. Bessie Clary, Laura’s maid, was played by Savannah Valdez, who has a very grateful and grounded way of approaching a more comedic character which makes her comedy feel genuine and lived in. Bradley Langan played Laura’s fiancee, Shelby Carpenter, a Southern gentleman with such ease and grace that you’d think he was equally as Southern of a gentleman as Carpenter.

Danny Dorgan is Laura’s downstairs neighbor. He is played by Dylan Hilbert, who seems to be just about the shiniest and sweetest young man. Hilbert truly showed a range of acting with Danny, going from the sweetest young man to the most frustrated and upset one. 

The title character, Laura, was played by Andi Pace, and I urge ANY directors looking for a perfect 1940’s actress to call her. Pace brought heart, seduction, insane amounts of chemistry and much love to this show. Every time she was onstage I could not keep my eyes off of her. She is simply to die for.

The eccentric Waldo Lydecker is played by Alex Eding, who is a masterclass in comedic timing and finding new ways to make a character from the ground up. Eding is hilarious and has such a light air around acting that makes it look so natural. Eding gives the performance of a lifetime in this show and I found myself LOVING Lydecker throughout the entire performance.

The sweet and brilliant Troy Murray brings Detective Mark McPherson to life in this production. Having seen Murray in several shows over the years, I can confidently say this is my favorite performance of his to date. It's a stark contrast to many of the larger-than-life roles I've seen him play, revealing a quieter, more grounded side of his talent. There was something incredible about watching Murray navigate the mystery, piecing together clues with a calm confidence that made it easy for the audience to follow him every step of the way. In a show full of eccentric personalities, Murray served as the steady center, guiding us through the twists and turns with security and a detective's instinct. 

I have not stopped raving about Laura since I saw it; it was truly magnificent. As a mystery lover, it was the best thing to sink my teeth into on a Saturday afternoon. Laura runs one more weekend at the Cox Playhouse and if you go, you will see a show worth dying for!

Catch the magic while it’s live!!

Ellie