Book and Lyrics by Jon Brittain
Music and Lyrics by Matthew Floyd Jones
History
Book writer and co-lyricist, Jon Brittain’s critically acclaimed play ‘Rotterdam’ premiered at Theatre503 in 2015 before transferring to Trafalgar Studios where it earned him a nomination for the Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2016. It later transferred to 59E59 in New York and the Arts Theatre in the West End. He then went on to write and direct a series of cult hit shows; ‘Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho’ and its sequel ‘Margaret Thatcher Queen of Game Shows’ were sell-out staples at the Edinburgh Festival.
Composer and lyricist Matthew Floyd Jones is probably best known for being ‘Mannish’ in the cabaret duo, ‘Frisky & Mannish’ with Laura Cocoran, in which they parody pop songs.
Brittain and Floyd Jones first teamed up for a musical play about depression, ‘A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad)’, which won them an Edinburgh Fringe First Award in 2017, and is currently being developed for television. They followed this up with this comic musical about true crime, ‘Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder!’, which debuted at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe for a sell-out run, returning to the Festival again in 2023.
Story
Best friends for life, Kathy and Stella are the murder-obsessed hosts of Yorkshire’s least successful true crime podcast. And things aren’t looking great. Their careers are non-existent, their families are worried sick and their favourite author, Felicia Taylor, has just been killed. But that does mean they’ve got the chance to take on the job they were born to do. It’s time to solve a crime, but can their friendship survive it ?
In A Nutshell
Armed with only their Twitter feeds, their “murder gang” of limited online devotees and no experience, can Kathy & Stella solve a crime ?
Production
I saw the production on its return to the Edinburgh Fringe, in the upturned purple cow on George Square. Starring as the titular duo were Bronté Barbe (one of the final Dorothys on ‘Over the Rainbow’) as the geeky Kathy, and Rebekah Hinds (best known to me for her brief appearance in ‘Inside No 9: Empty Orchestra’) as the gothy Stella, and their voices blended perfectly. The ever wonderful Jodie Jacobs also appeared as the murder victim and several of her family (who all looked the same) and the investigating Police Officer. I must also praise Imelda Warren-Green, who along with TJ Lloyd, played the majority of the remaining parts. Musical Director was Matthew Floyd Jones himself. The songs were hilarious or moving as appropriate and the 90 minute runtime flew by. The musical was very British, and I particularly enjoyed dance routines involving our heroines in office chairs with castors.
Very highly recommended.
Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder runs at the Udderbelly, George Square, Edinburgh until 27th August 2023. It then plays at the Bristol Old Vic from 13th-30th September 2023, and HOME Manchester from 5th-21st October 2023.
Favourite Song
It has to be the opening number ‘Kathy and Stella's Murder Podcast’, closely followed by ‘If I Didn't Have You (I Would Die)’.
Did I Buy The Cast Recording ?
There wasn’t one available.
Links
Production Website: https://kathyandstella.com/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kathy-and-stella [Both my favourites]
Matthew Floyd Jones’ Website: http://www.matthewfloydjones.co.uk/
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