Susan Granger’s review of “Deadly Stages” (Theatre 5/Theatre Row – Off-Broadway)
I really wanted to laugh. I really wanted to enjoy this parody of 1940 and ‘50s backstage murder mysteries – like Stage Fright, Murder at the Vanities and The Velvet Touch. But it’s just too hammy and derivative.
Let me explain.
Set in 1955, the gender-bending plot revolves around two feuding divas. Legendary Veronica Traymore (Marc Castle – in drag – channeling Charles Busch), whose last show Young and Deadly flopped, has reluctantly agreed to play – not the lead – but the mother of bitchy Hollywood movie star Rita Vernon (Ellen Reilly), making her Broadway debut, in a new production titled Sins of the Flesh by playwright/director Anthony Arlo (David Leeper).
But then Veronica’s longtime dresser, Irish-accented Miss Muldoon – a.k.a. Dooney (Ellen Reilly) – is murdered. Whodunnit?
Could it be ambitious Phoebe (Dani Marcus), whose past employer was Eve Harrington (remember All About Eve)? Veronica’s British, ascot-wearing, playboy soon-to-be ‘ex’ husband Graham Sinclair (Rob Hancock)? Literary agent Barbara Landis (Ellen Reilly)? Gossip columnist Connie Edison (Dani Marcus), whose column is titled ‘Broadway Lights’ (Edison=Lights…get it?). Beatnik actor Wade Elliot (Rob Hancock)?
Adding to the confusion there’s producer Marvin Maxwell, veteran actor Fredrick ‘Fritz’ Farley, and stereotypical tough-guy Detective Collucci- all played by Tom Gilantich.
Written by Marc Castle and Mark Finley, it’s directed by Mark Finley who expects great resourcefulness from his limited cast of six Equity actors, each playing multiple roles – without much assistance from Court Watson’s wigs, costumes and/or props. Sound confusing? It is.
Along with a plethora of ‘inside’ jokes and ‘Easter Eggs,” the actors are burdened with reciting cliched phrases like “You can’t fire me; I have a run-of-the-play contract”…”It’s like Grand Central Station in here”…and “Lead on, Macduff.”
Plus there’s an additional campy conceit that (fictional) Veronica Traymore has her own extensive biography in the Stagebill…and black-and-white parody television commercials featuring flashy pianist Liberace (Sean Chandler).
There are nine scenes that run for 90 minutes without an intermission. “Deadly Stages” can be seen at Theatre 5 on Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street) through March 16. For tickets, go to https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/deadly-stages/