The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
at Trabuco Hills

Reviewed on February 1, 2020

Hannah Weiner
University
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies

Suspecting Laughter At Trabuco Hills' ‘Musical Comedy Murders'
written by Hannah Weiner, a sophomore at University High School

As guests arrive at Elsa Von Grossenknueten's home for a Broadway audition, business goes awry when the Stage Door Slasher claims more victims. A wide array of ornate characters collaborate to identify the culprit in a night of melodramatic comedy at Trabuco Hills' ‘The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.'

Aidian Rocchi plays the struggling, optimistic comic, Eddie. After discovering he will be auditioning for celebrated director, Ken De La Maze, Rocchi's eyes widen with shock and excitement as he sprightly jumps into the air, fist raised to the sky enthusiastically, and twirls around. Rocchi's awkwardly cheerful tone and abrupt arm and shoulder movements while fighting off a killer, playfully encaptures the humorous aspects of the comedic murder mystery.

Delaney Miller, playing Nikki, sits silently off to the side with her ankles crossed, completely concentrating her eyes on a script. This level-headedness amicably contrasts the flamboyant director and high pitched socialite of Ken (Michael Sladek) and Marjorie (Joliya Iriarte).

Mirielle Smith amusingly plays the drunken lyricist, Bernice Roth, as she lies face down across the sofa, legs suspended over the armrest, arm dangling over the side, feeling about for a wine bottle. Smith slurs her words and stumbles across the stage, comedically taking attention away from issues at hand.

Costume designers Joliya Iriarte and Angelina White stunningly capture the lightness of Bernice with a long, flowy, amber skirt, complemented by an off the shoulder, ruffled, cream blouse. Adding to the look, hair and makeup designers, Jaclyne Schoen, Mirielle Smith, and Natalie Cinquepalmi, give Bernice a loose bun that periodically becomes less put together as the show continues, highlighting the dishevelment of her character.

Almost entirely directed by Alyssa Gauss, the impressive staging adds to the humor within each scene. Elsa (Jaclyne Shoen) is strategically placed at the front of the stage towards the left, commanding focus of the room, as she attempts to explain the information in a victim's notebook. Standing on a platform behind the guests, only visible to Elsa, Michael Kelly (Ethan Ononuoha) and Judith Kumkquat (Talla Khatatt) use charades to aid Elsa as she struggles to interpret the notes. This creative use of space work exceptionally adds to the hilarity of the show.

With exceptional use of tone and space, Trabuco's ‘Musical Comedy Murders' impeccably displays the humor in a dark situation.

Emi Nishida
University
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Hilarity and Homicide in Trabuco's ‘Musical Comedy Murders'
written by Emi Nishida, a senior at University High School

In the New York mansion of musical backer Elsa Von Grossenknueten, a group of guests - actors and a creative team - gather to audition their newest musical. But before they can begin, a maniacal murderer, known as the "Stage Door Slasher", claims his first victim. With a criminal at large and everyone as suspects, the guests rush to finish their show and answer the age-old question- whodunit? Complete with charismatic actors and a skilled crew, Trabuco Hills' ‘Musical Comedy Murders of 1940' is mayhem not worth missing.

The offbeat comic, Aidan Rocchi plays a loveable Eddie McCuen. Rocchi jitteredly jumps about, demonstrating his playful personality, and when asked to hold a gun, his hand trembles out of nervousness. With chorusgirl Nikki Crandall (Delaney Miller), however, he tries to be more of a hero-type, and successfully portrays his character's awkward inexperience with romance as he states his feelings matter-of-factly and obliviously turns away from a near-kiss.

As Ken de la Maize, Michael Sladek is humorously haughty. Bragging about his previous work, Sladek advances to the front of the stage and lists off his famous acquaintances, gesturing elaborately with his hands to show his arrogance. Another standout guest is lyricist Bernice Roth (Mirielle Smith). Getting progressively more drunk through the night, Smith stumbles about, clutching her glass, and sprawls across the couch, accurately depicting her intoxication.

All of the mansion inhabitants excellently interact with one another, creating a high-energy dynamic. In true melodramatic style, Judith Kumkquat (Talla Khattat) plays the iconic "dun dun dun" on the piano after mysterious revelations, cueing the entire cast to turn to the audience with comical wide-eyed, shocked expressions.

The set, designed by Ethan Ononuoha, features a rotating bookcase and sliding fireplace wall, both operated smoothly by the running crew, Raquel Watson, Kylie Thompson, and Rachel Wissmueller. Such changes are called consistently by stage managers Hannah Comroe and Hannah Amerman, and the work of all three groups combine to create a well-timed and executed effect.

Jackie Kennedy's lighting design also works to establish the eerie environment. When the power goes out, a brilliant blue light bathes the stage, indicating the darkness while still allowing for enough visibility, while brighter lights flicker spookily.

Contrary to all of the secret identities revealed throughout the show, one thing is no secret: Trabuco Hills' ‘Musical Comedy Murders' is to die for.

Davide Costa
University
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Whodunit at Trabuco Hills' "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940"?
written by Davide Costa, a senior at University High School

In the winter of 1940, guests are invited to a mansion owned by Elsa Von Grossenknueten, replete with secret passages, for a backer's audition. Slowly the group realizes there is a killer among them entitled the "Stage Door Slasher", infamous for killing 3 other women. Banding together, the group goes through drunken conversations, trips through trap doors, and countless power outages to find the killer once and for all.

Michael Sladek, as Ken De La Maize, did an excellent job performing the typical exuberant theater director. When playing on a couch with the limp, lounged body of Marjorie Baverstock, played by Joliya Iriarta, Sladek struts around the couch using spiffy movements and great comedic timing, utterly stupefied when discovering she is actually dead.

Amongst the chaos, Luke Desmond, as Patrick O'Reilly, weaseled around the stage, fervently taking notes in his notepad when no one was looking. When confessing his true identity as a German secret agent, Desmond's tight consonants and upright posture left the audience in stitches. Throughout the show, Desmond aggressively attempts to capture Angelina White, as Helsa Wenzel, knowing there is something else to her weird nature and antics. Rightfully so, almost every time the closet door was opened, White stood there frozen with wide-open eyes and a meat cleaver in her right hand, showing her murderous tendencies.

Throughout the utter confusion, Aidan Rocchi, as Eddie McCuen, makes nonchalant but awkward advances to woo over the calm and cool-headed Delaney Miller, as Nikki Crandall. While explaining the love definition of chemistry to Miller, Rocchi boasts his incredible physical comedy. Rocchi uses exaggerated gestures and flailing movements, like hopping into the arms of a police-officer when the lights go out, to show his clumsy, cowardly, and wannabe hero-like traits.

Hannah Comroe and Hannah Amerman as the stage managers did an excellent job calling the cues, every single one is accurate and consistent. When all the suspects in the house go searching for the "Stage Door Slasher", they decide to use the trapdoors and secret pathways littered across the room. When lifting a feather on a table, the secret bookshelf behind the suspects spins in perfect synchronization.

Trabuco Hills' performance of "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" not only told a hilarious whodunit story but also showcased the impeccable comedic characters and mannerisms of everyone on stage.