The Oswego Players’ second main stage performance of the 2026 season is their debut run of “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody”, which will be performed the last two weekends in June at the Frances Marion Brown Theater near Fort Ontario park in Oswego, NY. This madcap comedy, written by Ron Bernas and directed by Kevin Colvin, pays homage to the screwball comedies of the 1930s, promising light entertainment and serious laughter for audiences of all ages.
The action centers around the lives of the idle rich couple Matthew and Julia, and their incessant desire for one-upmanship with New Year resolutions. Matthew announces he will kill Julia before the year is out enabling him to enjoy a jet set lifestyle; Julia, always three steps ahead of him, agrees thus beginning a madcap year of ruse, counter-ruse, and unexpected deaths.
Oswego Players director Angella Bandla picked this show specifically, but due to her unexpected passing earlier this year, Kevin Colvin will direct in tribute. “I would love to have had her vision and clarity of ideas to propose this extraordinarily funny show myself,” he said. “My focus now is producing something that will honor Angella’s memory and her legacy for theatrical excellence.”
Colvin has assembled a talented cast of regulars and new timers to the stage. The “idle rich”, Matthew and Julia are played by Richard Heim and Tammy Thompson, while Hannah Kandt and Alex Daniel Velez play their daughter Bunny and boyfriend Donald, respectively. While Thompson and Kandt are regulars on stage with the Players, Heim returns from a two-year absence, and Velez is making his debut with this show.
As all comedy murders simply must have a know-it-all butler and an inept detective, the cast is rounded out with Troy Pepper playing Buttram the butler and Rebecca Hill Kandt playing Detective Plotnik.
“They’re a diverse group,” Colvin said. “But already the chemistry is coming through as the cast settle into their roles. We are all channeling our memories of Angella into this show and hope she would be proud of the results come performance time.”
Performance dates and times for A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” are 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays June 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th with Sunday matinees at 2pm on June 21st and 26th. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors/students and can be secured through oswegoplayers.org or by calling the box office at (315) 343-5138.
“A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc www.concordtheatricals.com.
The Oswego Players acknowledge the generous financial contributions of Chiasson’s Heating and Air Conditioning.
Pictured are the cast of “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” back (l-r): Rebecca Hill Kandt, Troy Pepper, Hannah Kandt, Alex Daniel Velez; front: Tammy Thompson, Richard Heim.