Do things done in the dark always come to light? Yes, according to playwright Rob Penny, whose Murder on the Hill District opened at eta Creative Arts Foundation , 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., beginning their 2002-2003 season. The show, which runs through Nov. 3, is entertaining and well suited for the entire family, with lots of tongue-in-cheek lines performed by the African-American ensemble.
Set in Pittsburgh in the Black church, Murder begins with Detective Kumako Victorious ( Amos Ellis ) trying to solve the murder of a young, handsome church member, Jamie Hathaway. Ellis keeps the play going, with his "Columbo-like" inefficiency that masks his real skills.
In the early scenes the audience may struggle with understanding his dialect, taken from his Maroon background. But it becomes more understandable as the character, Detective Kumako, becomes more likable and comfortable. Kumako is assisted in his efforts by his mother, Mrs. Victorious ( Matrice Edge ) , who seems to ask just the right questions and make just the right observations to help her eager son. And she brings to the table her own African practices and superstitions that Kumako respects but finds unable to utilize on his own behalf.
Who committed the crime? It could have been Rev. Cameron ( Ray Baker ) , whose wife ( Yatta Carter ) may been have less faithful. One of the more colorful characters is the pastor's secretary, Gilbert Calloway ( Rich ) , who plays the typical gay assistant. But one wonders if he is too flamboyant to really work in a traditional Black church? Still, the complexity of his character keeps the audience guessing until the moment that Kumako solves the case and identifies the murderer.
The plot itself is not very complex, but the interaction of the characters and the wonderful comedic lines make this play one worth seeing. And like any good whodunit, each scene draws upon the previous one in a way that leads the audience to forming its own conclusion.
As we discover the truth, one might find the dialogue a bit too unrealistic--too charged with psychological "mumbo-jumbo." But then, the human being is a complex individual and as the play shows, we are always individuals with many faces--some which often remain hidden to everyone except ourselves.