‘The Tangled Snarl’
Pat Taylor Review
The Tolucan Times/Canyon Crier
2004
The Tangled Snarl & Murder Me Once – We had a great time at this one! A duo of riotous 1940’s “whodunits,” presented in two one-act comedies, both co-written with razor sharp wit and 90-mile-an-hour, snappy dialogue. Clever playwrights John Rustan and Frank Semerano have dreamed up wonderfully colorful characters, involved in devious situations. To solve their cases, they also created “Spuds Idaho,” a wise-crackin’, offbeat detective who makes “Bogie look like a sissy.”
A sharp looking, heavy drinking ladies man, Spuds takes on two cases here, involving the baffling deaths of two despicable sleazeballs (Legs Flamingo and Coins Fontaine). Of course, there’s one gorgeous doll after another on his suspect list to spice up matters. His tough talkin’ dialogue is sprinkled with hilarious, snappy one-liners! Examples: “I can’t afford a wife; I can barely support my bartender.” Or “He’s deader than a silent movie star’s career.” Or “She had the kind of green eyes that could make monks break out into show tunes.” Very funny and smart writing!
Todd Babcock is simply fabulous and great fun as Spuds. His smoldering look, raspy voice, timing and witty sarcasm are all without flaws. Under the crisp, fast-moving, well-staged direction of James Reynolds (Abe Carver on Days of Our Lives), this whole cast is delightful, and keeps us laughing throughout. All in black, white and gray, Victoria Proffitt’s beautiful sets and Lois Tedrow’s elegant period costumes are award worthy.
In The Tangled Snarl, Mary Beth Evans is sinfully sexy, as the conniving Leslie Detweiler, and Daphne Bloomer is infectiously appealing as Spud’s overly smitten secretary. Also riotous are Dan Payne as the bumbling crook, Arman Manyan as the kid, and Steve Ryan (guest actor).
In Murder Me Once, three glamorous and evasive suspects, Arianne Zucker, Catherine Munden and Alison McMillan, offer a trio of tantalizing portrayals. Richard Voigts as Grieves, the stuffy butler, was a scream. Roger Davis fares well as the Irish cop and Dan Payne returns as the crook.
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