“The Smell of the Kill” is a devilishly funny dark comedy that had me laughing nonstop and before I knew it, the show was over.

I was disappointed. I was deeply engaged with the three women on stage and wanted our dinner party to go past the main course and well into dessert and cordials and

beyond.

But that’s the mark of a great show isn’t it? Before you know it, it’s over.

This quick-witted comedy at The Phoenix Theatre went like that — dialogue that raced along with three actresses pin balling from one punchline to another, some unexpected action and surprises and then no intermission. Boom. You’re done.

Oh and you guys out there. There are long scenes with these three beautiful women parading around in their lacy brassieres. Just sayin’.

“The Smell of the Kill” is set at a dinner party at the home of Nicky and Jay who are entertaining Molly and her husband Danny and Debra and her husband Marty. These couples have known each other for years yet much is revealed. But the important lesson for the evening is this: each one of these husbands is dysfunctional if not downright rotten.

So when the opportunity presents itself, the women ponder, what if? What if we could be widows without any consequences?

The fact that the husbands never appear on stage and are just disembodied voices doesn’t help their case either.

It’s one of the many strokes of genius in this little gem by playwright Michele Lowe. Phoenix director MaryBeth Dagg made this little diamond shine, with the help of three polished actresses.

Meredith Armstrong is delightfully ruthless as Nicky, the snarky henchwoman of the trio. Adrienne Mays as Molly is as sweet and light as Cool Whip, or so you might think. And you’ll wind up rooting for weak Debra, played artfully by Jean Mishler.

Together, these women create the kind of diinner party that makes you hungry for more.

“The Smell of the Kill” plays 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through June 26 at The Phoenix, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds. Tickets are $18 and $15. Call 206-533-2000 or go to The Phoenix Theatre.