Printable CopyDEAD MEN DON’T
The Garage International
Until 12 Mar 2011

Review by Jamie Wright

Done in the style of a live-action radio play in front of a studio audience – complete withadvertisements, dance numbers and live sound effect and music – 'Dead Men Don't' pays homage to thegreat detective-noir stories of the 30s and 40s.

Steve Powell is an actor on a weekly radio drama; life starts to imitate art, though, when he is caught upin a murder investigation he draws on his experience of playing a detective to help solve it.

Allison Williams' script, adapted for the Fringe by Todd Espeland, is hilarious and chock-full ofaffectionate parodies of both radio drama and the gumshoe detective genre.

The performances are great, particularly Ken McCloud, who switches between the nebbish Powell andhis monologue-delivering, tough-talking gumshoe alter-ego with ease. Melody Wilson is similarly good asthe obligatory 'dame', Barbara Mitchell, and sings a wonderful a cappella version of 'Under the Rainbow'.

Clever, funny and almost certainly unlike anything else you'll see in the Fringe.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)