Weather 
Picture a cozy cottage lying deep in the heart of Provence, France. It’s 1939, and the ever-present threat of World War II looms. Yet nothing can disturb English couple Peter (Daniel Anderson) and Suzy (Ashley Bourget) from their state of serene idyll, not even their mysterious neighbor Josef (Todd Caster) and his penchant for showing up at their house at some quite inconvenient times. That is, until a long-buried betrayal threatens to upend everything: Suzy’s discovery that Peter may not be the man he professes to be, and instead could be someone capable of ruthless crimes, now on the run to avoid persecution. As the plot unfolds and new visitors Ross (Brandon Goldsmith) and Miriam (Dana Leigh Segal) arrive, the audience must keep reevaluating their view of these characters…because not everything is what it seems and not everyone can be trusted in this twisty thriller.
The fast-paced, dark plot of Strictly Murder, written by Brian Clemens and directed here by Jim Tyminski, is buoyed by its cast, whose strong performances add complexity to the story and keep theatergoers guessing throughout. The entire cast did a fantastic job; my personal favorite performances came from Daniel Anderson and Ashley Bourget, as the story’s central couple, Peter and Suzy. The characters are vastly different on the surface, yet they feel believable as a couple due to the actors’ portrayals and chemistry, making their opposites-attract dynamic especially entertaining. Peter in particular is a complicated character to follow, and Anderson lends the role plenty of depth and nuance from start to finish.
The set design, by Kat Davis, is straightforward and unpretentious, as the play solely takes place at Peter and Suzy’s cottage. Davis’s atmospheric scenic design evokes the comfort of the couple’s home, the feeling of being hidden away from the chaos of the outside world but also cultivates the sense of mystery and danger that could be waiting at every turn. Are they truly safe? Is the characters’ isolation protecting them, or putting them in harm’s way instead? Lighting design by Lowell Richard only adds to this balance, making the cottage feel homey at some points and menacing at others.
Costume designer Penelope Williams helps capture the setting of 1939 France with the characters’ clothing —from the simplicity of Peter’s outfit and Josef’s flannel shirt to the rich colors of Suzy’s dresses, to the sleek sophistication of Ross and Miriam’s ensembles and hats. Similarly, Marcus Smith’s sound work grounds viewers in the story as well, using period-appropriate radio broadcasts and the play’s tense, unsettling score to paint a picture of the darkness that just might lurk below the surface for these characters.
If you are in search of a layered, suspenseful, and rapid-moving thriller that will send you on a roller coaster ride of deception and betrayal, you won’t want to miss the Delray Beach Playhouse’s production of Strictly Murder. Don’t forget to secure your seat—even though you just might find yourself on the edge of it once the show starts!
Strictly Murder runs at the Delray Beach Playhouse, located on Lake Ida, through February 22. Purchase your tickets here.
The post Lies, Subterfuge, and Betrayal: Delray Beach Playhouse’s “Strictly Murder” is an Unforgettable Roller Coaster Ride appeared on South Florida Theater.
