THE PLAY: One of the deductive detective’s classic tales about mysterious deaths on the Scottish Moors is told with a humorous approach.

 

THE PRODUCTION: A farce requires commitment from the cast and this group certainly goes all in. Most of them play multiple characters that are almost always over the top and not in a good way. This is a talented group (with Erica Hughes showing the most comic spark), but director Jessica Dotson has guided them with wacky touches that just don’t work. The broad approach lacks precision and timing. This makes the comedy often awkward and the suspense nonexistent. Last season, CAT upped their game in the design department, but this season’s first design by J. Lin Heath is a setback (pun intended). The flats that represent the locales are…flat. The shadow screen that’s used for narrative touches is often clunky. Running time: 2:10

 

THE POINT: Although the cast approaches their screwball characters with verve, the direction didn’t bring it together to make it funny.

 

(2 / 5)

 

At CAT Theatre thru 9/16