Theatre Review: Perfect Crime

I finally got around to seeing "Perfect Crime", a murder mystery that has been running Off-Broadway since 1987 and is now the longest-running play in New York.  Not only that, but the original leading lady, Catherine Russell, has been playing the role of Dr. Margaret Thorne Brent for over 11,000 performances and is now in the Guinness Book of World Records.  She has only missed 4 performances in over 27 years.

 So, what's all the fuss?  It was just 'okay'.  Not anything to recommend.  I figured out most of the multiple 'mysteries' early on and I'm not much of a detective.  It lacked any suspense.  I thought Miss Russell was now much too old for the part.  It somehow felt like an amateur touring production of a 1930s play.  Miss Russell was at times on auto-pilot saying her lines and emoting as if she were phoning-in her performance.  Sometimes she yelled her lines when raising of her voice seemed totally inappropriate.  She just wasn't relating to or connecting with the other 3 actors.  I truly wonder if it could be a better play without her.

 One other problem: The play is performed in the small Bernstein Theatre which is part of the Snapple Theatre Center complex.  Also playing here in the Orbach Theatre beneath the Bernstein is the long-running "The Fantasticks".  The music from this musical performing below was clearly audible during the performance of "Perfect Crime".  Snapple should invest in some soundproofing.

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