Split Ends is a delightful, often hilarious murder mystery, set in – where else? A beauty salon.

The audience is introduced to a host of characters: three ritzy women, Adele (Paula Newman), Beatrice (Delana Hubscher) and Louella (Mimi Scott), who are each canoodling with the other’s husbands (all cleverly played by the same actor, Jeremy Black); Henri Le Lune, the owner of Split Ends Beauty Salon (played by Sidney Myer, who overdoes the French accent to perfection); the young manicurist Cindy (Maria Cabezas) who sheds melodramatic tears about her love life; Kitty, the beautician who suspiciously looks like a man (Gil Hagovsky, who practically steals the show); and rounding out the cast is Marty Grabstein as Merv, the bumbling detective, with a “tick Brooklyn accent.” When one of the husbands turns up dead, mayhem and mirth ensue. Who dunnit?

What sets this show apart from most murder mysteries is that it’s a musical. It’s easy to forgive that it’s not a masterpiece; the original music and lyrics by Bonnie Lee Sanders and Mark Barkan are quite impressive. The musical pieces are melodic and play with a variety of genres, from cabaret to doowop to blues. The lyrics are cute and witty and written with just enough sophistication to ably move the story along.

Some show stopping moments include Henri’s customer relations lesson in “Do These Ladies in the French Way,” the tango-flavored “ Trash”, and the 50-inspired “It’s Always the Quiet Ones.” Delana Hubscher is irresistible as she sings every woman’s anthem, “ Food and Drink,” Jeremy Black conjures Al Jolson as he croons “Sorry, But I Have to Say Goodbye,” and Mimi Scott and Black are uproarious in the bawdy “Why Do We Do It? We’re Having Fun.”

What makes this show great is it never takes itself too seriously. This is a campy send up of the murder mystery stereotype and the audience is in on the game. The performers are so charming and have such a good time; the fun is simply infectious.

Tony Stevens did the staging, albeit small, and admittedly there’s not much set, just a few props and a curtain constructed by Joe Kehoe. Bobby Pearce has instructed the ladies to wear some lovely dresses and the matching robes in peach hues are a nice touch. Sure, the theater has a garage basement feel. But that shouldn’t stop you from making a stop at the Split Ends for a refreshing change of pace.