"Murder for Two" - by Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair - Greater Boston Stage Company (Stoneham, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Jared Troilo as “Marcus” and Will McGarrahan as “The Suspects” in a scene from "MURDER FOR TWO" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through November 9, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"I don’t know, Lou, it’s hard to pick a favorite. He wrote so many wonderful books. As far as I can remember there was only one that filled me with a burning hatred.”
- ("Marcus") / Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair
Greater Boston Stage Company
Presents
"MURDER FOR TWO"
Book and Music by Joe Kinosian
Book and Lyrics by Kellen Blair
Producing Artistic Director Weylin Symes
Directed by Tyler Rosati+
Music Director Bethany Aiken
Cast Includes: Will McGarrahan* as “The Suspects” and Jared Troilo* as “Marcus”
Additional Creative Team:
Scenic Design - Katy Monthei; Lighting Design - Matt Cost; Costume Design - Chelsea Kerl; Sound Design - Adam Smith; Sound Operator - Denzil Kakol; Properties Design - Hazel Peters; Production Stage Manager - E.D. Fitzgerald*; Production Manager - Meghan Ward; Production Assistant - Kit Verweij; Scenic Builder - Misfit Toys, LLC; Scenic Charge - Kate Bell.
*Member Of Actor’s Equity Association
+ Young Company Alumni
Performances:
October 24, 2025 through November 9, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY, 395 Main Street Stoneham, MA. 02180
TICKETS:
Box Office Hours: Mondays – Fridays, noon to 6pm Box Office # 781-279-2200 boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
Greater Boston Stage Company (GBSC) presents a dangerously funny "MURDER FOR TWO" which is a deadly musical comedy arriving just in time to help close out the spooky season.
With book and lyrics by Kellen Blair and book and music by Joe Kinosian, the 90-minute musical farce (no intermission) is a whodunit for two actors who both sing and play piano onstage.
Debuting in Chicago in 2011, "MURDER FOR TWO" won a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Musical.
Two years later, it premiered Off-Broadway where it was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.
The GBSC production is capably directed by Tyler Rosati with music direction by Bethany Aiken.
(Photo: Jared Troilo as “Marcus” with Will McGarrahan at the piano in a moment from "MURDER FOR TWO" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through November 9, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
As "MURDER FOR TWO" begins, a murder takes place at the birthday party for the famous (and equally infamous) author Arthur Whitney - and the police are on site to investigate, although the detective in charge of the investigation has yet to arrive.
The two-person GBSC cast consists of Will McGarrahan as the “Suspects” with McGarrahan performing the roles of ALL the eccentric suspects and other characters, and Jared Troilo as policeman-wanting-to-be-a-detective, “Marcus,” who takes charge and investigates the murder.
The two actors are both quick on their feet, which is required given the rapid pacing of the show.
They equally display complete piano virtuosity from beginning to end as the madcap murder mystery unfolds.
(Photo: Jared Troilo as “Marcus” with Will McGarrahan at the piano in a moment from "MURDER FOR TWO" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through November 9, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
At the October 25th GBSC performance there was a minor technical issue which interrupted the "MURDER FOR TWO" performance for approximately 10 minutes.
Once the production resumed, the two actors continued undeterred, concluding an otherwise exemplary performance.
As scripted and scored by Kinosian and Blair, "MURDER FOR TWO" is silly, occasionally sophomoric with no apologies implied nor offered nor required.
However, it may be too silly for some while not silly enough for others.
Your mileage may vary but, as for myself, I thought the GBSC show was wildly entertaining.
(Photo: Will McGarrahan as one (or more of?) “The Suspects” in a scene from "MURDER FOR TWO" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through November 9, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
This show is strictly for fun and anyone seeing it should just avoid overthinking any of the absurd plot twists and simply enjoy the infectious fun offered by the musical and comical antics by McGarrahan and Troilo.
In his role portraying all (well, MOST of) the “Suspects,” McGarrahan is allocated with carrying the weight of the varied flying costume and prop pieces, displaying great versatility in the process.
The list of suspects McGarrahan portrays include: the prima ballerina, the widow, the niece, the psychiatrist and, well, let’s just say “more” for now – you’ll need to see it to believe it.
The entire GBSC production of "MURDER FOR TWO" takes place on a deceptive cleverly constructed set, which yields some unexpected laughs along the way, as well.
(Photo: Jared Troilo as “Marcus” plays at the piano while Will McGarrahan plays with sharp objects in a scene from "MURDER FOR TWO" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through November 9, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
"MURDER FOR TWO" continues in Stoneham at GBSC until November 9th, 2025 and to miss this show would be a fatal mistake.
Coming up next for Greater Boston Stage Company will be "AN IRISH CAROL" by Matthew Keenan, beginning December 5th and running through December 21st, 2025.
For tickets, contact the GBSC Box Office at # 781-279-2200 or at boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org
BUY TICKETS
Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
One murder.
Two actors.
Six suspects.
And one piano!
"MURDER FOR TWO" is a zany musical comedy whodunnit, offering the perfect blend of music, mayhem, and murder.
When the great American novelist Arthur Whitney is found dead at his own surprise party, the list of suspects is long:
Was it the prima ballerina, the widow, the niece, the psychiatrist, or even the detective?
With just two actors playing 13 roles (and the piano), this clever, fast-paced show is an entertaining homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries.
The New York Times hailed it as an “ingenious miniature musical in the form of a snazzy vaudevillian double-act.”
ABOUT GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY
GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY(GBSC) brings vibrant professional theatre and dramatic education beyond the boundaries of Boston, featuring world and regional premieres alongside fresh interpretations of familiar work. Within this setting, GBSC uniquely fosters the artists of tomorrow by providing ongoing performance and employment opportunities to a company of current and former students. Located in Stoneham, MA. GBSC produces five Mainstage shows, presents a series of Special Events, and runs year-round classes, lessons, and fully staged productions through The Young Company for students in grades 1–12.
395 Main Street
Stoneham, MA. 02180
# 781-279-2200
boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org
greaterbostonstage.org
