January 4, 2003 - 740930 - Murder to Perfection

[vgarci]

This week's program is presented for your review by Steve who is having a birthday on January 3. Happy Birthday, Steve!

For those who do not have the program, you can download it (with or without a Streamload account) at: www.streamload.com/vgarci (http://www.streamload.com/vgarci)

[vgarci]

Terrific program. The characters were extremely well developed and the program was compelling. My only complaint stems from my opinion that the end was far too predictable. Our villian was the type I love to hate...smart, crafty, devious and ruthless....but he made a mistake that cost him. Mercedes McCambridge was terrific as our heroine and the warble to her voice added to the tension.
One side note I'd like to offer: After the program was over, I noticed that we weren't introduced to any sort of policeman or detective in this play. I applaud the author because too often these characters steal time from the development of other characters. Our villian's brother could have been replaced with a detective but I definitely like the choice of a family member as our hero.
Great choice, Steve.

[Steve]

Hey, glad you liked it! I really enjoy this episode. I agree with you that the ending is a bit predictable, and, after a few listens, I also wonder why the imaginative Nikki doesn't just tape record Guy's confessions early on. In addition, I can believe he killed the alchoholic wife using the upped dosage of sleeping pills, but I don't quite buy that Nikki's sister would just throw herself out the window (mainly because [i:b26d397fa0]I[/i:b26d397fa0] have a fear of heights myself! :shock: )

But an airtight plot is not what I listen to this one for---as you mentioned, it's the strong characterization and acting. I love this story because of its wonderful, almost soap-opera like, characterizations. The villain is such an oily, arrogant jerk, you just hate his guts. The entire cast is perfect. McCambridge is always a special favorite of mine. So deliciously melodramatic, and [i:b26d397fa0]what a voice![/i:b26d397fa0] I love when she says to Guy, "You are EVIL, you're a DEVIL!!" Despite the predictability of the ending, you hate Guy so much it's still very satisfying to hear them trap him.

Also, it's a nice lean, economically written story with just 3 characters. (I always prefer the ones with fewer characters.) And I like the fact that they launch right into the meat of the story first thing, right at the sister's funeral. This one is extremely engaging and a lot of fun.

Until next time. . . . !

Steve smile.gif

[Fizzlestix]

Happy Birthday, Steve! Thanks for the SotW selection. I listened to this one installing a floor in my attic. It was great because the laborious task of cutting, fitting, nailing, swearing, and sweating was sidelined by my focus on the show. hehe

I really enjoyed this one. It may have been somewhat predictable, but in like the old Columbo shows, you often knew what was coming yet the fun was in seeing how it would all play out to catch the "bad guy."

I have to comment that the first five minutes of the show were really well done (the whole scene in the funeral parlour). The actors gave excellent illusion to being in front of the dead sister. The mental image created was nicely done.

Thanks and happy days ahead!

Fizz

[Steve]

Hi Fizz,

What with all the sweating and swearing, I sure hope your attic floor turned out well. :wink: Glad you enjoyed the show! (I really like that first five minutes too.)

Steve smile.gif

[brian1984_2001]

Thank you Steve for a great show. I gave it a 4.

The anti-hero was wonderfully written and developed. He was arrogant enough to be unlikeable, but was never a caricature. MCambridge turned in a great performance, as always.

I liked the story, the script, and the acting. If all those elements are there, it's a great show! This was a great one.

[Steve]

Brian,

I think you put your finger on the most important thing that makes this episode work so well---the fact that Guy is never a caricature. I hadn't really thought specifically about it before. He's believable, despite being so over-the-top arrogant, so, as an audience, we can't help but identify with Nikki. You just gotta hate the guy.

Steve smile.gif

[storytellermommy]

Happy Birthday, Steve!

This show kept me on the edge just waiting and trying to figure out how that evil Guy was going to be caught. My mind was also busy trying to guess how he got his victims to kill themselves (had a quick flashback to the one where the Nazi prison camp official was saying he never killed anyone, they killed themselves). They did a great job making us hate Guy (both setting him up with a good script and his acting).

Really enjoyed the show and a new record for me lately, heard the show in one sitting. LOL

[dave]

happy( late) birthday!

the thing that made this one good for me was the acting. the writing was a bit predictable. the mood at the funerals was well done. i couldn't swallow the killer's method of killing though. that ruined it a tad. the killer's brother seemed familiar to me. did he also play the ex-husband on ONE DAY AT A TIME?

it's not quite a keeper for me but was enjoyable.