A murder mystery that is a comedy? That seems hard to pull off. Nevertheless, the brilliant actors and crew of the Fountain Hills Theater pulled it off wonderfully. “Any Number Can Die” is a gem of a play well worth seeing.

The scene is set with an announcement that we are in 1928. The rich uncle has died and the hopeful heirs are gathering on a storm-drenched island for the reading of the will, to be done precisely at midnight.

It seems like an ordinary mystery until Edgars, the butler, enters. Instantly you are aware that this is a melodrama spoof on murder mysteries. An owl hoots and Zenia the housekeeper, played wonderfully over the top by Heidi Carpenter, predicts that when the owl hoots twice, two people will die by morning.

Strange character after strange character arrives. The last, and perhaps best, is Hannibal Hix, played to perfection by Bob Feugate. Hix is a private detective on his first case after 42 years on the police force…as a file clerk. No crime has been committed yet but he is certain that someone will die…just like the Sherlock Holmes book he carries under his arm.

Turns out, nobody is who they say they are. Characters are murdered. Secret passages are discovered. Lovers are spurned. Eventually the murderer is uncovered, literally; all accomplished with the extravagant tongue-in-cheek gestures of a classic melodrama.

The set is truly amazing. How director and set designer Peter J. Hill created all the fake walls and human statues on this small stage is pure artistry.

The audience left still laughing and raving about the entertaining evening. I cannot recommend this play more highly. It runs the next two weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Don’t miss it.