one4review | On 17, Aug 2024

The Man Who Wouldn’t Be Murdered is a jazzy, musical comedy written and composed by the immensely talented Lily Blundell and directed by Izzy Grout. It’s based on the true story of Michael Malloy, a man who miraculously survived multiple attempts on his life.

Set in 1932 during the throes of Prohibition, the show transports us to a gritty underground speakeasy in the Bronx, run by Tony Morino and his wife. Tony, plagued by poor business sense, is on the brink of financial ruin as customers exploit his generosity, racking up unpaid tabs. In desperation, he concocts a scheme to take out life insurance on a new, drunken employee, assuming it would be easy to kill him off and collect the payout. Naturally, things don’t go as planned.

This is a thoroughly entertaining production. Blundell’s music effortlessly evokes the smoky jazz bars of the era, while her sharp lyrics keep you engrossed in the story. The exceptional cast captures each character’s personality with precision, delivering powerful vocal performances and making clever use of the stage throughout.

I highly recommend this brilliantly written and performed musical.

****
Reviewed by Lynn
On The Keys

theSpace@Niddry Street

21:50 (50mins)

Until 24th August (Not 18th)