'Death and Taxes' at Naugatuck's Phoenix Stage - My Review

If you are like me, you start thinking about the yearly ritual of tax preparation in January.  The murder mystery/comedy that opens at the Phoenix Stage of Saturday, Jan. 25 entitled Death and Taxes blends life's only two certainties. At this "taxing" time of the year, it is the perfect way to engage your mind and laugh a little while doing it.

In a small Minnesota town, the town council members are looking for a murderer of a stranger. The mayor calls a public meeting of this colorful group to figure out whodunit and the audience is invited to go along for the ride. In fact, after a very clever introduction to intermission, interested audience members are encouraged to come onstage to examine the set for clues.

Expect perfect sets, costumes and Minnesota accents ("don't ya know,") polka music and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The wonderful set was built and decorated by director Ed Bassett, Lori Poulin and Laurie Phillips and the props were assembled by Mr. Bassett and Ms. Poulin.

What struck me the most at the final dress rehearsal that I was invited to attend was how perfectly director Ed Bassett had cast each and every character in this cast of nine where nobody likes each other. The lovely and very talented Kristen Jacobsen returned to the PSC to play the Mayor of the small town. Her secretary Lydia was played by Ms. Poulin in her first role on this stage where she had to memorize lines and she did a great job with the role.

Tony Benedetti of Oxford, a member of the Naugatuck Community Choir, played Sheriff Thorne. Leland Schick (a tenor in Sweeney Todd) and the hysterical Debbie Forish teamed up to play the couple in whose home the body is found. Ms. Forish sported the best costume and bottomless handbag. Alanna Kingsley returned to the PSC to play the nosy neighbor Cora Sedgwick in another great costume. Ms. Kingsley will appear as Claire in the upcoming production of Fuddy Mears.

Connor Murray of Litchfield made his stage debut anywhere as Eddie King, the editor of the local paper. Mr. Murray did an amazing job with his first role and should definitely continue to audition in my opinion. Tim Phillips, not a doctor, got to play one onstage as only he can. Tori Richnavsky returned to what she calls her "second home" to play the very smart Miss Martindale. I could watch Ms. Richnavsky do just about any character and I loved seeing her figure out this mystery.