By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 31 January 2026, runs through 1 February 2026 Transfers off Broadway 15 April through 27 June 2026 (Ticket link below) RUNTIME: 125 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

It’s the extraordinary performance by Jack Holden (Cruise) playing multiple roles which is the best reason to see this true crime retelling of the death of town bully Ken McElroy in Skidmore, Missouri in 1981.

• Read on for reasons including how it will be fascinating to see what the US makes of this British take on a difficult story from its past

McElroy was shot while sitting in his red truck by 2 different marksmen in front of 46 townspeople, nobody called an ambulance or apparently saw anything.

He was indicted 21 times but escaped convictions for everything other than the shooting of the town’s 70-year-old grocer who the titular Kenrex then begins to harass alongside the minister as McElroy’s appeal looms.

Holden gives an extremely physical performance playing all the roles and switching seamlessly between multiple characters never blurring people who have similar US accents.

John Patrick Elliott is the composer and onstage musician who punctuates the dramatic action with songs which give a real sense of place and period.

We’re not fans of true crime as a genre – apart from Hulu’s Only Murders In The Building because of the genius comedy reunion of Steve Martin and Martin Short – because we prefer our theatre to concentrate on positive stories rather than glorify in wrongdoing.

But to be fair to Kenrex, the interesting dimension within it is how a group of people can decide that they’ve had enough and work together to ensure that their problem is solved by taking the law into their own hands and yet any legal ramifications are still avoided.

Is there ever any justification for mob rule when the legal system is found wanting?

Holden co-wrote and his Cruise, also a multiple role performance he co-wrote and had an onstage musician, was nominated for the Best New Play Olivier.

He recently adapted The Line Of Beauty at the Almeida and is working on a new version of the Boy George musical Taboo.

Holden takes Kenrex off Broadway later this year and it will be fascinating to see what the US makes on this British take on a difficult story from its past but there can be no denying Holden is 1 of theatre’s brightest rising stars.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy KENREX and The Other Palace Tickets
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