Murder? She Asked succinctly and shrewdly taps into the current popular obsession with true crime podcasts, served up with plenty of laughs.

A short sharp theatre treat, Murder? She Asked is the story of a podcaster, Friday Evans, searching for a true crime subject for her next hit on the iTunes Top 100 Podcasts list.

Staged simply, the hero of this gem is the sharp script and does not rely on set or props for laughs.

Written by lead performer Grace Chapple, the wit delivered keeps the audience’s ears open, waiting for the next crack or crazy-but-true metaphor.

Chapple is a self-confessed true crime podcast fan and her identification of the factors that make a perfect podcast subject is right on the money.

The script makes use of the well-known trope of private-eye monologue and it’s delivered in the expected film noir pattern.

Cleverly though, the narration throughout the play is updated and enlivened by the use of modern slang and local references.

The result of combining the expected template with unexpected expressions is a well-balanced comedy performance.

Chapple is joined on stage by her fellow Perth actor Daniel Moxham who also directs the one act play.

Moxham plays a diverse set of characters in Chapple’s creation, moving seamlessly from slob roommate, to detective, to lothario and back again.

The range shown by Moxham and his expressive face is key to maintaining the momentum in the comedy.

This is an economical one hour play and has a limited run at this year’s FRINGE WORLD.

As such, it is highly recommended you get along to Rigby’s soon.

Catch this new Western Australian production before it runs out like the whiskey in a jaded detective’s flask on a stakeout.