Review: SOMETHING'S AFOOT Steps Lively At Vagabond

SOMETHING'S AFOOT at Vagabond Players in Fells Point meets every requirement of mine to qualify as an adorable little show. The script (book, music and lyrics by James McDonald, David Vos and Robert Gerlach) is conceived as both spoof of and tribute to the works of Agatha Christie, who is often credited with the invention of the mystery sub-genre of 'cosy'. Let's have tea, light the sconces, sing a song, whoops, somebody's dead.

Those who are familiar with Christie's works probably will be nodding in recognition from the opening moments, and I won't say anything further on that matter, because surely, surely, there are some among you who will enjoy it freshly, completely unaware that it is a highly derivative work.

Parking in Fells Point can be a challenge: my favorite lot at the corner of Thames and Caroline no longer accepts cash- credit only is the new normal. There is parking in a garage on Caroline Street, two blocks to the north, but be sure to look at a map or map app, as the streets go a bit wonky just there.

Vagabonds Theatre, located on the West side of Broadway Square, features a lobby of petite proportion. Be prepared to wait cheek-by-jowl with your fellow theatre-goers, or to face whatever the weather is outside if you require more personal space should you arrive before the house opens. Seating in the theatre is precisely what you'd expect of a theatre this size.

The set is compact and cluttered, (looming and ominous being impractical), an obstacle course that all but forces dynamic action. It includes four entrance/exit points, essential in a one-set play with cast numbering ten characters and also manages to conceal the live orchestrette that accompanies the singing and dancing numbers.

Dancing numbers! There's not much dancing, but what there is of it is cute and competently executed. If there are vocalists among the cast demonstrating more enthusiasm than accuracy, it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the show, because all of the actors are great fun to watch. The characters, while more archtypical than realistic, are loveable and resplendently costumed. I particularly enjoy Jane Boyle as Miss Tweed, whose dignified yet energetic comportage and rich, full voice enhance her confident performance, and Dean Allen Davis as avaricious, lascivious Nigel Rancour is delightfully slimy.

Though I am somewhat overwhelmed by the succession of expository songs featuring various subsets of the Company, one musical number in the second act amuses me enough to counterbalance the ballads, which are never my favorite anyway. The pacing is brisk, however, so every number concludes without dragging.

Vagabonds has done it again, and by "it" I mean produced another heartwarming show full of laughs and props. If you're in the mood for a happy, snappy little musical with a measure of murder in the mix, SOMETHING'S AFOOT is your cosy cup of tea.

Showtimes Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm,

October 30, November 1,

November 6-8

November 12-15. November 12 is a special Discount Thursday performance at 8 pm.

For tickets, phone Vagabonds' box office at 410-563-9135,

or you may Buy tickets online

The Vagabond Players is located at the foot of historic Fells Point in downtown Baltimore

806 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231

Pictured L-R: Tim Evans, Tammy Oppel and Gary Dieter as Clive, Lettie and Flint; Jane Boyle as Miss Tweed

Photo Credit: Tom Lauer