Mimi (or A Poisoner’s Comedy): clever creepy

Mimi (or A Poisoner’s Comedy) set in seventeenth century France, is a modern musical, with a clever and creepy feel that I loved. In this Touchstone production currently on at the Firehall Arts Centre, lavish costumes and wigs transport the audience to a world where debauchery rules. The opening scene is a rich romp in a Paris boudoir with sex, music, and Louis XIV's lavish draped material. Even the pianist plays in costume and wig.

Debauchery is fun but when Mimi’s lover introduces death to her it proves even more titillating. Mimi uses pigeons to bake her poisonous pies so she can bump off the citizenry of Paris. Mimi’s raunchy marital indiscretions (with her husband's participation) displease her straitlaced father. Mimi’s husband is deliciously dim, and her Dad is an outrageously stuffy prig. Both partake in pie.

When Mimi is good, she is very very good and when she is bad she is brilliant. Jennifer Lines is alluring and attuned to Peter Jorgensen (as Mimi's lover) in duets both charming and alarming. Linda Quibell belts just as well as she sings more subtle riffs, and Greg Armstrong-Morris tosses off fine comedic timing, whether as an Italian prisoner missing his mama or an outlandish beggar lacking limbs. This politically incorrect scene is my personal favourite.

The reluctant detective solves the crime’s solution in spite of his hunger. Heads roll before this entertaining night is over.

Mimi (or A Poisoner’s Comedy) by Allen Cole, Melody A. Johnson and Rick Roberts runs until November 20 at the Firehall Arts Centre for more information go here.