THEATER REVIEW : Playwright Kills Mystery in ‘Murder’ at Gaslamp

One of the characters in “The Business of Murder” at the Gaslamp Quarter Theatre wonders at the public’s fascination with murder mysteries.

Such fascination surely didn’t come about because of plays like this.

“The Business of Murder,” playing through April 15, may be a San Diego premiere of a British mystery, but if you’ve seen “Zoo Story” and “Sleuth,” you might as well chalk this up to “Business as Usual”--yawn--but without the freshness of an insight or an emotional punch.

Granted, questions do linger at the end of Act I but only because not so much as a clue is given as to why an odd, solitary man (Louis Seitchik) preoccupied with reading murder scripts and watching murder shows on television lures a police inspector (Paul L. Nolan) and a mystery writer (Donna Walker) to his flat.

When he at last reveals his motivation--revenge for a murder rap pinned on him by the inspector and converted into a successful play by the writer--everything falls into its talky, talky, talky place.

The professionalism of the production is not one of the guilty parties. The crisp direction by Will Simpson, the detailed London flat by Robert Earl, the elegant costumes by Catherine L. Meacham and the deft lighting by Matthew Cubitto all come up to the Gaslamp’s usual high, polished standards.

The acting by the three-person ensemble flows like a stylish piece of chamber music but, alas, with some telling notes missing.

Gaslamp veterans Walker and Nolan are particularly fine, with Walker outstanding as the smug, hard-edged success story whose self-assurance is slowly stripped away by the revelations. Nolan creates a solid presence, but seems uncomfortable conveying the bully that is supposedly raging within his tight-lipped policeman’s exterior.

As for Seitchik, he excels in the long, silent bits of business, but does not capture the manic, desperate sensibility just under the surface that would strike fear into the audience and his prey.

Probably the most interesting note the show leads up to and then fails to explore in depth is the issue of a writer’s responsibility to real people in fictionalizing the events of their lives. Such books should become an increasing concern in an age where one author’s opinions can cause murder trials to be shut and closed in the minds of the public before the accused ever reaches a “fair” trial.

But “The Business of Murder” only superficially explores the hoary subject it raises. It’s a pity. Such a direction might have led to a play that pointed a finger at something truly chilling--and lasting.

“THE BUSINESS OF MURDER”

By Richard Harris. Director is Will Simpson. Costumes by Catherine L. Meacham. Set by Robert Earl. Lighting by Mathew Cubitto. Sound by Michael Shapiro. Stage manager is Rebecca Nachison. With Louis Seitchik, Paul L. Nolan and Donna Walker. At 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday with Sunday matinees at 2 through April 15. At 547 4th Ave., San Diego.