It’s been a long time since I’ve watched a decent satirical murder story, let alone one so cleverly written. Imagine my surprise when I began watching “Murder, Anyone?” which (I’m proud to say) immediately sparked memories of the tongue-in-cheek 1982 film, Deathtrap. Yes, that jumped right into my head well before the main characters, Charlie (Howell) and George (LaMarche) began to brainstorm their ideas to write a modern-day Hitchcock-like play, referencing the Christopher Reeves/Michael Caine masterpiece. Interlocking this alongside another James Cullen Bressack directorial, and I am all in.

As an ode to his beloved father, Gordon Bressack, James brings his dad’s script to life through a partner writing session which plays out live, as we enter the process of playwrights developing their characters, changing plots, and even going off the deep end with unnecessary additions that have nowhere to go. Thus is the madness that all writers tend to endure from time to time, although not to the full extent of this intentionally amusing level of absurdity.

We are introduced to snooty rich-bitch, Bridgette (Stineman) who catches a young and handsome Cooper (Andrews) trying to steal her father’s Picasso. Within the confrontation, emerges an ongoing plot to commit murder, cover-ups, and enough greed to wrap around the planet, twice. The story becomes convoluted through the appearance of a chicken, a French speaking blind psychic, and zombies. Basically, the pair of men toss out the most far-fetched concepts to see what sticks, while we are treated to watch it play out in hilarious comedic timing.

The laugh track, exaggerated murders and disagreements thrown into this mix of discombobulated sketches is simply marvelous.