“Thrill Me” — a little more, please

The components of In Tandem’s season-ending musical, Thrill Me, seem perfect: Juicy story of two young lovers turned murderers for the thrill of the kill; songs; brooding scenery; comedy to lighten the sinister mood. But somehow, Thrill Me doesn’t thrill me.

Stephen Dolginoff wrote the music, lyrics and book of the 80-minute show, which runs without intermission. It tells the story of the fateful summer of 1924, when friends and lovers Nathan Leopold (Adam Estes) and Richard Loeb (Joe Fransee) decide to kidnap and murder a young boy for the thrill of it. Nathan hesitates, at first. He is not as maniacally devoted as Richard to (a particular interpretation of) Nietzsche’s theory of the “super man.” Nathan’s fear of losing an increasingly distant Richard motivates him to help commit the crime.

The primary problem is the music. Dolginoff tries to drive the narrative as much with the song lyrics as with the dialogue. The result is songs that are super-literal and have a way of growing more and more grating. The worst is the clunky I’m Trying to Think, in which Richard and Nathan painstakingly and tediously sing through Nathan’s alibi again and again.

Some of the songs do work. In Way Too Far, about midway through, Nathan expresses his torment over the decision to go along with Richard’s plot. Roadster, Richard’s siren song to lure the boy they kidnap, sounds like a dark lullaby and is one of the most unnerving songs I’ve heard in a theater.

But those are exceptions. Most of the blandly forgettable songs and blend in a fog of similar tempos, melodies and rhythms. That includes the title song, which could have been Nathan’s shining moment in which he demands that Richard demonstrate his affections. A missed opportunity, there.

Estes, Fransee and director Chris Flieller’s do about all that can be done with Thrill Me. Estes laces into every phrase and gesture Nathan’s obsessive need to be with Richard, and he prompts surprising sympathy for his murderous character. Fransee makes his character likable in a different way. His Richard, a born charmer, can captivate anyone, including the audience. Fransee’s skill is such that he can charm while raising the hair on the back of your neck.

Amid a musical with so many flaws and such characters, the actors manage to engage us and make us care. After all, we’ve all done something stupid for love — although maybe not this stupid.

Thrill Me runs through May 15 at the Tenth Street Theatre, in the lower level of Calvary Church, at 1oth Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Tickets are $20 or $25, depending on time and day of performance. Call 414 271-1371 to order, or visit In Tandem’s website.