Murder for Two

The Philadelphia Theatre Company, housed in the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad and Lombard Streets, is concluding its 40^th Anniversary Season season with a zany, madcap musical murder mystery.  Murder for Two features a cast of two and will run through June 28. Don’t let the numbers fool you.  A murder mystery must have more than one suspect and this one has a multitude: Kyle Branzel plays all of them, each with a motive to kill the distinguished author who has been killed at his birthday party.  Ian Lowe portrays a beleaguered Officer Marcus Moscowicz who is determined to solve the murder and earn his detective’s badge.  Unfortunately, Marcus is a slipshod sleuth: but oh, can he play the piano!  At times joining him at the piano, at times nearly pushing him off the bench and at other times playing solo while Marcus sings one of his theories, Branzel is often at the piano in one of his persona.  You don’t always know which character he is portraying when he is at the piano but it matters not.  Kyle's repertoire is astounding and most of his many characters are easily discernible by his quick switch to a pair of glasses, a limp, a ballet pose, a deepening of the voice, or the character's walking on his knees wearing a baseball hat. Kyle Branzel is an extraordinarily talented actor. Each suspect Branzel portrays has his/her own voice and he never varies from it. He is light on his feet with his dance routines. Along with Ian Lowe he sings to move the story along and performs brilliantly at the piano.  Whodunit?  You’ll just have to come and see and be prepared for a wacky romp. For more information or tickets, call 215-985-0420 or visit PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org