Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder

The musical-meets-whodunnit combo can be a hit or miss. Go a bit too much on the camp side, and it becomes just a silly story. Go a bit more serious, and the musical layer stops working. Knowing that, I approached “Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder” with a healthy dose of skepticism. But let me tell you, this musical had me hooked from the first note. If you’re a musical fan, you will have a fantastic time—there are very few spoken lines and many, many smartly-written songs.

Sleuthing in Style: A Perfect Balance of Camp and Substance

From the get-go, the show manages to strike the perfect balance between camp and substance. When a murder happens very unexpectedly, and their favourite celebrity – writer is found quartered on the street, the two best friends decide to solve the case themselves. We follow them as they sniff around, visit the hospital, morgue and even the most exciting event of all – the Murder Con. All this, to solve a case with a big twist…

While the premise of two true crime podcasters investigating a grisly murder could have easily veered into the realm of the macabre, the writers have injected just the right amount of levity to keep things deliciously fun.

A Fresh Take on True Crime

I’ve been pretty open in my previous reviews that I’m not a big fan of stories showcasing criminals as “celebs” or just “handsome musical leads” – and I’m not a supporter of a way for example Bonnie and Clyde are portrayed in their musical.

However, I’m always keen to explore new approaches to the topic, hoping that it would surprise me with a new approach. And here you go, Kathy and Stella showed up, with a murder whodunnit that’s both fun and engaging, but keeps it camp enough to stay away from highlighting the murderer’s persona.

Puns to Die For: Clever Writing and Character Development

The script is a veritable treasure trove of real crime puns that had me giggling like a schoolgirl. But beneath the surface-level hijinks, there’s a beautifully crafted story about the power of friendship and following your dreams. There’s a crazy “bit drunken” song performed in a karaoke bar, but there’s also a beautiful ballad about life goals sang by the the Detective Inspector (Elliotte Willams-N’Dure) a particular standout, showcasing the cast’s impressive vocal chops. I was truly impressed by the writing which allows the audience of all ages and interests to truly have a fabulous night out, without cringing.

A Cast to Kill For: Standout Performances

Bronte Barbe created a wonderfully clumsy and geeky Kathy character, and injected a lot of heart into the whole show. As I followed Kathy’s growth from childhood to current times, I could fully understand her motivations and changes in life priorities (well-presented in the plot).

It’s not obvious to see such character development in a (all in all) comedy show! Rebekah Hinds absolutely murders her role as Stella, crafting a character that’s as sharp as a coroner’s scalpel and twice as cutting. This sassy northern lass is the perfect partner-in-crime-solving to Kathy’s more timid persona. Hinds breathes life into Stella with a delicious blend of sardonic wit and fierce loyalty, creating a character who can verbally eviscerate a suspect one moment and tenderly support her bestie the next.

Pop Culture and Punchlines: A Mixed Bag of Humor

It’s a kind of show where humour is based on pop cultural references and puns, so if you’re into this type of stories, like random Rick Astley mentions, then this is definitely for you. Some of the jokes were a bit overdone and didn’t fully land for me, like the overly repeated “they’re lesbians” joke. Made me chuckle the first time, and just annoyed me when repeated through the show.

And speaking of the ensemble, each and every performer brought their A-game, with standout turns from Imelda Warren-Green, whose voice-changing abilities left me utterly mesmerised. The whole small yet extremely talented ensemble did a wonderful work: Elliot Broadfoot effortlessly switching roles between a typical mom and a morgue technician, Ben Redfern was wonderful with his karaoke performance, and Hannah Jane-Fox received an applause every time her mysterious characters appeared on the stage.

The stage design, too, deserves a special mention. What started as a humble fringe production has been elevated to West End splendour, with clever set pieces that transform the stage into a variety of locations, from a karaoke bar to a morgue.

So if you’re in the mood for a delightfully murderous musical romp that manages to balance the macabre with the madcap, do yourself a favour and book your tickets to “Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder” post-haste. It’s a killer good time, I promise.

*Gifted – I received the ticket to see the show in exchange for an honest review

The Ambassador Theatre, London

Playing until Saturday, 14 September 2024

Running time: 2hr 20min. Incl. 1 interval.

Tickets from £20.00

Get the tickets to see the show from London Box Office website: