MURRAY – Murray City Cultural Arts’ production of WKLL Radio Murder Mystery Hour was a delightful experience with no shortage of talent, heart and laughter. Performed in the newly reopened Murray Theater, which, despite nearly a decade of extensive renovations, still maintains its original art-deco design and historic charm and was the perfect backdrop for this 1940s whodunit.
Show closes October 17, 2025.
Written and directed by siblings Tabitha Thompson and Joseph Thompson, WKLL Radio Murder Mystery Hour was originally a dinner theatre show and rewritten to a full-length play specifically to be the first live theatre production as part of the reopening of Murray Theater. It tells the story of a radio producer, Wadsworth Karlton Lancaster, III (Adam Wilkins), whose shady business practices have left those performing in his radio show reason to hope for his demise: Veronica Vonroe (Wendy Richhart), the actress hoping for a second chance at stardom; Jack Dubke (Eric Lash), who really wants you to love ostriches as much as he does; Toby Benson (Joseph Spear) a man of few words and Lancaster’s childhood friend; Irvina Little (Kellie Jennings) who is very close to her mother; and Sasha Sue Snickerschmidt (Abbie Ogden) whose name nearly sounds made up. Chaos ensues when someone is left for dead, another has had too much to drink, and everyone seems to have forgotten they still have a live show to perform.
The strongest element of the performance were the actors, who each brought their unique characters to life. Particularly enjoyable was Spear, whose character was very physical, mostly because he didn’t utter a single word during the first half of the production. Impressive was the scene where he was responsible for performing the radio show by himself. He flawlessly ran back and forth across the stage, replacing the actors, the announcer and providing the sound effects. I anticipated a scene such as this when the show first began and was thrilled with Spear’s energetic and exaggerated performance.
Also noteworthy was Ogden who brought an innocence to the stage and had me constantly laughing as she performed with a perfect lisp. Ogden masterfully delivered her lines, not coincidentally laced with many words with the “s” sound, with precision and vigor, and combined with her animated facial expressions, Ogden’s performance was immensely entertaining and a highlight of the evening. Both Spear and Ogden as well as the entire cast’s performances were a testament to the talent, professionalism, and vision of Thompson and Thompson. Their direction truly encapsulated the joy of a whodunit and at times I felt like I was watching a scene from one of my favorite films, the cult classic Clue starring Tim Curry.
The technical aspects of the production were overall well executed. Costume Designer Chad McBride provided period appropriate attire to the cast and complimented each character’s personality well. Most enjoyable were Veronica’s sparkling ruby red dress and Sasha Sue’s blue dress with the adorable Peter Pan collar. Props and Set Design by Dwight Western were minimal, but effective. I enjoyed the details given to Veronica’s dressing room dresser and the variety of props Toby used to generate sound effects. And, of course, no performance about a 1940s radio show is complete without the “Applause” sign and retro standing microphones. With respect to sound, I did think the microphones could have been amplified slightly as I occasionally struggled to hear the dialogue.
While the performances were strong throughout, the production was not without minor flaws. At times, the aspects of the script felt redundant or unnecessary. Specifically, Richhart’s dressing scenes were repetitive and I questioned the need for any musical performances (“Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Me & My Shadow”). I was also perplexed by what seemed like two detailed introductions about the ostrich farm during Scene 1. Additionally, I would have liked more On Air scenes. The pacing during Part One felt slow, but that was quickly remedied in Part Two.
It was my pleasure to review WKLL Radio Murder Mystery Hour as part of the grand reopening of the Murray Theater. The sense of excitement and comradery I felt from all those in attendance was lovely to witness. As the granddaughter of two very proud Murray residents who have since passed away, it was encouraging to know that maintaining a historic building and preserving the history of the city was a priority for leaders and community members. Don’t miss your chance to see local talent shine in this energetic, funny and quick-witted production that is sure to delight all in attendance.
These reviews are made possible by a grant from the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks program.
