Take a look at what is being said about the musical now making its West End debut…
Time Out: **** “Brittain, together with the show’s co-director and choreographer Fabian Aloise, gives us a blaze of colour and inventive set-pieces. These whirl deliciously through the various visual cliches of potboiler detective fiction as filtered through loving parodies of Big Musical Moments. This is reflected in the whip-sharp book and lyrics, in which Brittain and Floyd also give us an affectionately wry snapshot of the clamour of internet-era fandom.”
The Stage: **** “Madcap murder-mystery musical offers a shot of rock’n’roll escapism.”
Ham & High: *** “Barbe and Hinds have great chemistry as co-dependent schoolfriends who rescued each other from social siberia – revealing both Kathy and Stella’s vulnerabilities, Northern grit and journey to self-acceptance.”
Evening Standard: ** “The acting is all wildly exaggerated, and volume utterly trumps nuance in the songs. Above all, it feels as if the story is being made up as the show goes along, in a vague attempt to link the arch, mundane, pop-rock numbers. The title of one of these, ‘F*ck! We Don’t Know What We’re Doing’, just about sums it up.”
Theatre & Tonic: **** “In the central roles of Kathy and Stella, Bronté Barbé and Rebekah Hinds are exceptional. They have been with the production from the start, and it shows. They have excellent chemistry and are completely believable as childhood friends who have been through a lot together over the years. Their powerful singing voices blend beautifully. This is demonstrated at its best in their duet, “If I Didn’t Have You (I Would Die)” – combining comedy, gorgeous harmonies and some real heartfelt emotion. They give two well-rounded, distinct characters with their own quirks and foibles, but are at their absolute strongest as a pair, and always stay likeable even when they’re not doing the right thing. They’re brilliantly written and performed.”
All That Dazzles: **** “The songs are a delight, and it rarely feels like they come too fast while a scene is being set – perhaps once or twice in the first act a scene could be given more room to breathe, but contrary to my usual thought (that most things could lose 10 or so minutes) I wouldn’t mind at all if the scenes were a bit longer and the songs all remained.”
Lost in Theatreland: *** “Dark humour at its finest, Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! is brilliantly witty, definitely the perfect musical night out for lovers of true crime! Written by Jon Brittain with music by Matthew Floyd Jones, this show delves into the ethics behind true crime entertainment as a genre, filled with laughs, drama and fantastic musical numbers!”
London Theatre1: *** “Overall, Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! isn’t especially serious. Despite having some of its producers and creatives in common with the theatrical beginnings of Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer and centring on murder, this show is not dark or challenging; in fact, it’s rather fun. There’s something about it that doesn’t quite feel designed for an adult audience but it’s equally not suitable for children. There are moments – especially in the songs – that are laugh-out-loud hilarious and that feel freshly observed. “
London Theatre.co.uk: **** “However, you have to applaud a show that features salient commentary on the ethics of true crime, our fear of violence in a patriarchal society, Wild West internet culture, and systemic police corruption – all while giving you a criminally entertaining night out. The case of the West End transfer? Cracked it.”
Broadway World: ***** “From the opening number to the introduction of ‘Kathy and Stella’s Murder Podcast’, this show is a delight. The murder mystery story is largely told through the catchy and well crafted musical numbers from Matthew Floyd Jones are where no moment is wasted. Every line is intended to not only entertain but also effectively drive the plot forward and develop the characters.”
Radio Times: **** “Overall, Kathy and Stella is fresh, funny and comes with many layers to slice into. Whether you’re a fan of musicals or not, it’s bloody good fun.”
West End Best Friend: **** “Leading the cast, Bronté Barbé (Newsies) and Rebekah Hinds (Oklahoma!) are able to capture the characters perfectly, making you recognise aspects of yourself and how most people have been at one point in their lives, trying to work out who they are and what to do with their lives. The comedy between the two is timed to perfection and it is obvious that they have been working together for a while prior to this London run.”
London Theatre Reviews: **** “Overall, Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! is a delightful and distinctive new musical that’s impossible not to love. With its winning combination of humor, heart, and catchy tunes, it’s a must-see for fans of true crime and great theatre alike. Don’t miss this hilarious and charming whodunit.”
To catch up with our interview with Rebekah Hinds click here. To book tickets visit: ATG Tickets or Love Theatre.com.
The Reviews Hub: ***** “In a West End landscape overfilled with money-spinning movie adaptation musicals, Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder! is refreshingly original. The world of true crime podcasts and the obsessives who take it too far is perfect material for dark comedy. For a podcast listener, there are many satisfying references, which makes it feel exciting and current.”