Martin Dunlop is a masterful wordsmith. His command of the English language shines in his 2016 Comedy Festival show, Murder, He Spoke: A Murder Mystery, earmarking him as an inspired comic writer.
With a sharp, expertly written script, it is clear that Dunlop has an intellect and an imagination like none-other. His colourful characters, including, the murdered Lady Hamblin, her beautiful daughter Ivy, her less beautiful daughter Cecily, Tim, the devout Catholic but sexually frustrated gardener, and detective Martin Dunlop himself, among others, all exemplify Dunlop’s talent for creative writing.
While at times Dunlop’s theatrical transitions between characters were a little clunky, this didn’t detract from his stellar effort to distinguish each character with their ridiculous voices and body language. Intimately staged at Pleasance House, Collins Street, the room of no more than 30 was entirely at Dunlop’s command with his stage presence. This is certainly a fast paced show, and Dunlop’s ability to banter between the many characters he plays, is commendable.
It is clear that Dunlop is an avid fan of the Murder Mystery genre, boasting an incredible knowledge of everything from its’ history, to the intricacies of how a proper Murder Mystery tale is executed.
The show examines and rips apart all of the classic tropes of the genre, such as the multiple ridiculous suspects, the fumbling detective, the sidekick and the evidence that goes around in circles. Sherlock and Midsomer Murder fans should be warned, that in jest, this performance will take aim at all those classics and more.
Never shying from a little self-deprecation, Dunlop breaks the fourth wall at a point, and jokes that he doesn’t even know what time period the story is set in.
“I’ve gone from mentioning the Crimean War to Marilyn Munroe to having an extremely obscure 9/11 reference in there, so I don’t actually know what year it is,” he explains. This certainly adds to the ridiculousness of the show, however, and is by no means a flaw.
Amongst the plethora of traditional stand-up comics at the festival, it’s refreshing to see Martin carve his way through the pack with his unique approach. Murder, He Spoke is a quick-witted, politically charged and satirical show, that will not disappoint.
BY ABBEY LEW-KEE
