A comedy to die for at theREP

Sleigh bells and sharp wit collide in “Murder for Two: Holiday Edition” a two-man murder mystery packed with quick changes, clever songs, and nonstop laughs

If you like your holiday cheer with a side of chaos, “Murder for Two: Holiday Edition” at Capital Repertory Theatre is your kind of holly-jolly comedy. Co-writer (and frequent star) of the hilarious hit musical, Joe Kinosian has spent more than a decade making audiences laugh, gasp, and cheer with his blend of razor-sharp wit and musical mischief. Now, he’s bringing this festive twist to the MainStage Nov. 28-Dec. 28.

Q: “Murder for Two” is such a unique theatrical experience — a murder mystery where two actors play all the roles and accompany themselves on piano. How did you and Kellen Blair first dream up that concept?

Kinosian: We were looking for a project that we could self-produce, and wanted to write a book musical, but with limited resources. … We came up with a list of ideas, and one of the many was a murder mystery with two actors. I love doing voices, playing piano, and being a character, so it was natural for me to do all the suspects.

Q: The show blends quick-fire comedy, sharp mystery writing, and musical theatre. What was the key to getting that balance right?

Kinosian: There is a precedent for blending mystery and comedy. The sort of initial line concepts pitch was what if the Marx Brothers did an Agatha Christie story? We’re continuing a tradition, but I’d like to think we’ve made it our own — blending this sort of period genre of the Agatha Christie closed room murder mystery with much more contemporary humor so that if you’re a “Bob’s Burgers” fan, you’re going to find something to laugh at.

It’s hard to have a character sing their truth in a mystery. …. We definitely had to dance that dance if we wanted to write a musical of how to get these characters to express their truth and how to introduce themselves through a song without giving the game away.

We’ve described our style for “Murder for Two” as the ‘40s with cell phones. The music does definitely call back to, again, the Marx Brothers. They were such a huge influence, not just comedically, but musically.

Q: The show’s structure is famously fast-paced and precise. As both writer and performer, how do you keep that rhythm feeling spontaneous for the audience every night?

Kinosian: You have to rely on what you’ve built coming up to this day. …  I’m always relying on the audience to give me feedback on what is and isn’t working. Also, having a wonderful director like Scott Weinstein here, who’s been involved in the show in different forms in the past to keep it fresh, maybe shake it up, and make some different choices to keep it revitalized.

Q: How does this festive version differ from the original production — are there new songs, scenes, or surprises audiences can look forward to?

Kinosian: Yes, there are definitely changes to the script and to the score. We tried to be clever about working a couple of Christmas pieces of music into the four handed piano sections. And I don’t want to give anything away, but suffice it to say, there’s characters who meet ‘bad ends’ in the regular version, who in the holiday version meet very sweet Christmas ends.

Q: What’s your favorite new moment or musical number in the holiday adaptation?

Kinosian: There’s a sort of surprise character, who emerges toward the end of the show that’s a total curve ball, in both the regular and the holiday version. I just love playing that scene. … In the holiday version, the plot is even sweeter, and I find myself really enjoying going on that ride every night.

Q: This show demands incredible timing and chemistry with your scene partner. What do you look for in a collaborator for “Murder for Two?”

Kinosian: I’ll say Anthony Norman is amazing. He’s so talented, he’s such a good piano player, he’s such a great actor, he’s so sweet, and he’s got this incredible singing voice. The show requires this incredible precision timing to land, and it has to have this incredible clarity. So, I love working with someone who is dedicated to [getting it exactly right] until we know exactly what we’re doing.

And Anthony is not only so inspired and inspiring, but he’s dedicated to doing the work.

Q: What’s the biggest joy in performing a show as demanding (and hilarious) as “Murder for Two?”

Kinosian: I think the biggest joy is sharing it with an audience who’s receptive to it. We do this for the joy of bringing it to an audience and helping them forget their troubles for 100 minutes. And then, I would say, specifically sharing it when there are younger people in the audience. When you see a younger person kind of lighting up over it — there’s nothing better than that.

Q: How has your relationship with the show evolved over time?

Kinosian: I’m more grateful for it. … Especially at a time when making a career in the arts can just feel more of an uphill climb than ever. The fact that people still want to produce the show and see the show, I just find it more miraculous than I even did when it first began.

Q: What do you hope audiences take away from “Murder for Two: Holiday Edition,” especially during the holiday season?

Kinosian: I hope we make you happy, and I hope you feel better going out than you did coming in. That’s cliche, but it’s 100% true. I do feel like it’s my equivalent of a mission is to make people a little happier by my work, which ironically, I take incredibly seriously. But I take making you feel happy very seriously.

As the holiday season approaches, “Murder for Two: Holiday Edition” offers the perfect antidote to winter blues — a fast, funny, and slightly murderous romp. Get your tickets now for this inventive, intimate, and joyfully unpredictable show at theREP. Visit the Box Office at Proctors in-person or via phone at (518) 346-6204 Tuesday-Saturday 12 -6 p.m. or purchase online by visiting attherep.org.