One of the challenging things about reviewing theatre is there are so many factors that go into a production and the concept of recommending a show can be quite complicated. Sometimes a show will have it all- great material, strong production values, interesting direction and performances etc. Other times it is a more mixed review. My critiques are never meant to be insulting but simply sharing my experience with the production. Anyway, I had such a mixed experience with the recent production of Murder Ballad at Salt Lake Acting Company.

First of all, I really appreciate that SLAC keeps challenging our area with bold regional premieres and fresh stories other theatre companies aren’t doing. This makes me always intrigued to see whatever they are putting on. I’d actually never heard of Murder Ballad before the announcement of their season but it is fun that the Off-Broadway production starred Utah native Will Swenson. It’s a show with a small cast of 4 actors and they are all outstanding in their singing and acting. It is a rock opera with no spoken dialogue so their performances must carry the narrative to the audience. I particularly liked Latoya Cameron as Narrator. She had the most personality in her performance and was able to elevate the somewhat trite lyrics.

The show is also directed well by Cynthia Fleming with the actors moving around the small stage a lot which kept the audience more visually interested than they might have been from the story itself. I also enjoyed the lighting by David DeCarolis and how the colored light boxes changed depending on the mood of the characters.

Unfortunately my problem with Murder Ballad at SLAC is I was not impressed with the show itself. I don’t really know why it is called Murder Ballad to be honest as very little murdering happens. One goes in expecting Chicago or Sweeney Todd and what we get is a Rent-wantabe with nothing interesting happening but a very underwhelming love triangle that’s hard to care about. There are also moments on the marriage side of things that felt very Next to Normal-light. Again, the actors do all they can but they aren’t miracle workers. They can’t save this weak material or make these cliched characters compelling. The songs also feel like forgettable copies of other musical numbers from better musicals.

All that said, everything SLAC can do to save the show they do and if you are curious to see something new they can always use more support. I sincerely do love what they are doing there and appreciate them inviting me to review their hard work. Murder Ballad is playing through May 3rd and tickets can be purchased here.

Murder Ballad has music by Juliana Nash and lyrics by Nash and Julia Jordan with a book by Jordan. It premiered Off-Broadway in 2012 and on the West End in 2016.

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.