‘MacMurder!’ @ Wyly (Pegasus Theatre / ATTPAC’s Elevator Project)
—Carol M. Rice
Playwright Kurt Kleinmann, founder of Pegasus Theatre, has written 23 scripts for the company’s Living Black and White® series—each one featuring the not-so-crack detective Harry Hunsacker. Kleinmann used to play the role himself, but passed the mantle to actor Scott Nixon a few years back. The productions always involve some sort of murder that needs solving and, most importantly, are always a visual delight. It truly is like watching a 1930s black-and-white movie—only live and in person!
The latest installment, MacMurder!—a pick for this season’s ATTPAC Elevator Project, and now playing at the Wyly—takes us to Scotland, where Harry has just become a Lord and acquired lands and a castle. Though he was only 432nd in line to inherit, the 431 MacHunsackers ahead of him died after eating a tainted salmon mousse at a family reunion. But there’s a catch: it seem there’s a potential 433rd heir lurking, and Harry’s life is in danger.
Harry Hunsacker, world famous detective and aspiring actor, is always accompanied by his paid-by-the-hour assistant Nigel Grouse, who has been played by Ben Bryant since 2010. Nixon and Bryant have excellent chemistry as the intrepid twosome. Hunsacker is none too bright, and as the brains of the outfit clever Nigel allows Harry to believe he’s the one solving all the mysteries they encounter. Bryant doesn’t overplay the fact that he’s the smart one, just as Nixon makes Hunsacker just dumb enough to be funny—but not unbelievably so.
In this installment, we don’t get to see police Lieutenant Foster trying his best not to strangle Harry as he bungles whatever case Foster’s working on. Instead, we’re introduced to a distant relative, Inspector MacFoster, played by Jake Lawrence Geary. Geary has a fabulous Scottish accent, excellent comic timing...and he looks like a natural in a kilt.
The castle is filled with a bunch of mysterious servants: the cook Maise MacGregor (Lauren Ashley Hearn), the butler Lane Cochran (Brandon Whitlock), Mrs. Fiona Blair, who seems to run the household (Elisa Danielle James), the chauffeur MacTavish Wyllie (Jon Garrard), the maid Sophie Campbell (Madeleine Norton), and the gardener Seamus Hunniball (David Helms). All seem to have a secret or two of their own, and each has fun with their part of the mystery. No spoilers intended, but a few of them even die well. (Or do they?)
Adding to the spooky factor is Lady Fentwhistle (Robin Liesenfelt), an odd neighbor and family friend who warns of a banshee that will come in the night. Considering that the lawyer Simon Barclay (Sean Massey) has noted that to claim his inheritance Harry must spend the night unaccompanied in the castle, her prediction just adds to the jitters. Liesenfelt brings it all, making the eccentric Lady F a sharp yet fun contrast to Massey’s stodgy lawyer.
Naturally there is one more mysterious person in the mix, that of undercover investigative reporter Effie Stewart (Rowan Gilvie). it is she who breaks the news to Harry of the possible 433rd heir, and because Nigel must always have a woman who falls in love with him (and he with her), Gilvie plays the instantly love-struck fool very well.
Director Becki McDonald has put together a solid cast, and I must commend her for bringing some new faces to the Living Black & White series. She also handles the spooky sound effects and inevitable bagpipe music as sound designer.
D. Aidan Wright serves as the technical director, as well as co-set designer with Jeff Franks. These two have created a massive gray-scale castle that goes perfectly with Margaret Crowley’s incredible costume designs, Michael B. Moore’s wig designs, and Leslie Patrick’s stunning makeup design. (The trademarked Living Black and White makeup techniques were created by Pegasus Theatre and their use is an industry secret. They are truly impressive.) My companion and I did have a quibble with the wigs for Nigel Grouse and Simon Barclay; they hung raggedly in the back and just looked weird on both of these characters.
Lighting designer Jamie Milligan has created some wonderfully mysterious effects, and Kennedy Smith’s props design is spot on. I don’t know whether to credit Smith or Wright and Franks for the monochrome furniture, but I absolutely loved it.
MacMurder! being the latest in this long-running saga, playwright Kleinmann assumes the audience is familiar with plenty of back story. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a number of past adventures, so I know enough to understand many of the inside jokes that have evolved over the years—but I did think a few plot points were somewhat glossed over. Still, though newbies to Pegasus’ Living Black & White shows may not completely understand everything going on, there’s definitely enough eye candy and humor to keep everyone laughing.
WHEN: September 12-21, 2025
WHERE: Wyly Theatre, Dallas Arts District
WEB: pegasustheatre.org
