This weekend, Playcrafters Barn Theatre presents a murder most foul.  Okay, not foul.  “Anybody for Murder?” is meant to be murder most funny.

Max is married to Janet, but having an affair with Suzy.  Max and Suzy concoct a plan to kill Janet, collect the insurance and live together in financial bliss.

In comes Mary and George Ticklewell, announcing Janet is due for an inheritance from her recently deceased cousin, which they want a part of, but Mary is only a second cousin.  Identity confusion and deathly comedy ensues.

Playcrafters Barn Theatre is my favorite performance space in the Quad Cities.  I love the layout, with the stage jutting into the audience and the audience sitting on three sides of the action.  It’s such a great space, bringing the audience closer to the performance.

The set, crafted by Jeff Adamson, is truly impressive. These are real walls with a real staircase, not just theater smoke and mirrors.  During slower parts in the stage, I just sat and marveled at the set.

The lighting, too, deserves a mention.  I don’t usually notice lighting, unless it’s active and choreographed.  But, I noticed it here, despite its subltey.  The night scene is realistically lit, but light enough to see the actors, while believing they’re moving around the room with the lights out at night.

The show itself is amusing, but not hilarious.  I’ve never met a murder comedy that’s hilarious, actually.  They’re usually filled with predictable and/or flat humor.  Anybody for Murder? is the same, but, Playcrafters at least offers some fine performances to up the amusement level.

Christopher Tracy is a bit endearing, cute, really likable as Max.  He’s the murderer at the start, but you like him.  Tracy also keeps the show going in the dead spots (no pun intended) with ad libbed comments.  He seems to know about pacing and tries to keep things moving by adding comments here and there.

Pamela Crouch is impressive as the dead Janet.  That may sound like a slam, but it isn’t.  It’s not easy to go completely limp and trust in others to carry you around.  She does quite well at letting all control go.  And, her performance in the Second Act is quite charming.

Jean Lupoli’s Suzy offers the only two moments in the First Act in which I laughed out loud.  She offers a bit of a ditzy likeableness, which keeps you interested in the show.

Ben Hopkins, who plays Edgar, for me was the most enjoyable to watch.  He offers the most natural performance.  I truly enjoyed every moment he was on stage.  He’s sort of a gruff, likeable fellow with a good sense of humor.

Greg Bouljon, however, is made for this kind of humor.  As George, he plays the comedy of the show perfectly.  His style of delivery matches perfectly with what’s called for from the script.

Kathy Heckman  is appropriately cast as Mary, with the right amount of nagging wifeliness and controlling money-hungry, status monger.

The first act was a tad dull, with the audience not laughing as much as I think the script expects.  Part of this may due to pacing, which was a bit off.  Tighter entrances and picking up on cues for lines could correct this.  The second act, however, picks up with the audience offering their first, full on laughter in response to the comedy on stage.

Anybody for Murder? runs this weekend at Playcrafters Barn Theatre in Moline.  Shows start at 7:30 Friday and Saturday night and at 3:00 on Sunday.  Tickets are $10 and can be reserved at the theater’s website or by calling (309) 762-0330.