Murder on the Bounding Main
I love a mystery, and especially, I love Agatha Christie’s potboilers, so I was thrilled to hear of a new old mystery by local writer, Jack Chansler. His play, Murder on the Bounding Main, in which he stars, has all the building blocks of originals that are so beloved. A mysterious death of a crotchity gossip columnist (Richard Leppig as AlbyWatts . . . another name for Walter Winchell?), and a pair of unlikely honeymooners (Joana Houghton and Jack Chansler himself as Theresa and Mordecai Pierce) make the ingredients for solving the crime on a luxury ocean liner making the Atlantic crossing to witness Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
In the process the couple uncovers the less-than-savory hidden lives of a movie star with a dark secret (Brian Ames as Cliff Brackett), Barry Schwam playing aging comedian Rudy Tudy, a pair of elderly fans (Terry Savior and Rosina Pinchot) and many more inhabitants aboard ship. Even the ship’s captain (Richard Large) is not above suspicion.
The plotting of Chansler’s play rigorously mirrors the standard fare of many an amateur theatrical; and therein lies the rub. Despite director Tom Moses’ efforts at pace, the whole is not greater than its parts. There are several accomplished performers in the cast: among them, the delightful Rosina Pinchot, Richard Large and Jack Chansler, too. Brian Ames makes a modest splash as the movie star of the piece. But the rest cannot rise above the dated material. Instead of being a nostalgic look at our theatrical past, the script reminds that we abandoned this sort of narrative for a reason.
The unremarkable stateroom setting designed David Calhoun, the too-flat lighting by Kristen Cox and okay sound design by Barry Schwam can’t help. Chansler’s original songs, however are competent enough. Only Lois Tedrow’s costumes charm.
"Murder on the Bounding Main” continues Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM, Sundays at 2:30 PM; through February 21, 2009 at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre 91024. Tickets, $12.00 to $20.00. Phone (626) 256-3809.