Review of Waiter, There’s a Murder in my Soup at Studio 5ive,

Troubadour Wembley Park

Review by: Max Topliss
Price of Ticket: £49.50
Rating: ★★★★

A fine dining experience mixed with an immersive murder mystery,

Waiter, There’s a Murder in my Soup is a musical farce set within the
confines of Studio 5ive restaurant at the Troubadour Wembley Park.
Once seated and our glasses filled, the performers begin to inhabit the
space, gently interacting with each other and setting the stage for the
concert of the Marchioness du Jour. The venue is busting with
dignitaries, thespians and connoisseurs of the opera scene (that’s the
part we’re playing) and we meet the Marchioness’ footman, the German
trying desperately to pass as a Brit in post-war 1946. A scream. A shock.
A cry. The Marchioness has been murdered and all six suspects are
together in the room. There’s only one way to solve this, and in she
bounds on her bicycle ready to crack the case; Detective Susan Gusset.

After a few jaunty comedy tunes and an interview of each suspect the
first delicious course is served. Between being fed each delicious course,
we are fed more information about the murder, the suspects and their
motives. Before each scene we are drawn back into the farce with a few
1940s classic songs before a peppy number brings the suspects back on
to be interrogated by Gusset.

Each character was unique, and every actor engaged with us, effortlessly
striking up conversation. With sufficiently over-the-top accents and
farcical faces to match, the company really bought into the murder-
mystery vibe and made the night both funny and exciting. A special
mention must go to Declan Smith’s Anglo-Germanic Tommy
Shakespeare who was an utter delight to watch perform and engaging in
his interactions. The waiting staff also deserve a mention for their
wonderful service and friendly attitudes, although the service could do
with being streamlined slightly to leave less space between the end of a
scene and the course being served.

Much of the action and some of our feasting was beautifully and
brilliantly underscored on a delightful miniature grand piano which takes
centre stage and featured simple but effective songs that help to drive
the story. Francesca Fenech should be applauded for both her work at
the piano and as a suspect. The downside of the restaurant layout, the
underscoring and the exaggerated vocal work of the cast is that often
diction and clarity was lost in the dialogue. This was somewhat rectified
by Gusset’s evidential round-up at the end of each scene but struggling
to hear dialogue can really pull an audience out of the action.

This really is a show to take the family too; there’s wonderful music,
delectable food and cheeky inuendo mixed with wonderfully
exaggerated characters. If you want to scrub up in your best 40s attire,
test you detective skills and have a good time you have until 29 th March.