Shear Madness: Murderously Funny Comedy
When Marilyn Abrams and Bruce Jordan acquired the worldwide rights to Swiss playwright Paul Portner’s murder mystery Scherenschnitt, they couldn’t have known that the renamed and reformed work Shear Madness would become the phenomenal global success it has.
Now some 28 years after its January 1980 premiere and, according to the website, over 11,000 performances, the stage hit has earned its spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running play in the history of American theater.
Shear Madness is currently available in three U.S. locations: Boston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, with the first two productions permanent. The local production at Boston’s Charles Playhouse (74 Warrenton Street, Boston, 617-426-5225) is the original and most enduring variant, while the D.C. engagement at Kennedy Center’s Theater Lab is next in seniority at 20 years. International runs have also been staged in Budapest, Calgary, Mexico City, Rome, Seoul, and Warsaw thus far.
The central plot of the comedy spoof revolves around a murder that takes place above a hair salon local to whichever city the production is in. As details emerge about potential motives and perpetrators in the whodunit, audience members actively participate to determine what happened to the victim themselves.
What they don’t know — or at least what they aren’t supposed to know — is that their deliberations actually help shape the murder mystery’s eventual outcome. In other words, the play never ends the same exact way because attendees not only witness clues, but they also question the characters to elicit the information they most want to know.
It’s no surprise that this type of interactive entertainment all about one of human beings’ favorite preoccupations and pastimes, namely crime, is a huge hit with audiences both young and old. In Boston, Shear Madness‘ popularity has resulted in eight regularly scheduled two-hour performances each week, from Tuesday through Saturday, all priced at $40. Discounts are offered occasionally, as well.
Whether you already live in or near the city or plan to visit in the future, Shear Madness makes for a nice few hours of interesting, humorous relaxation. Take a look at the official website for more information on how to purchase tickets and participate in a slice of ongoing history.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Theater
0 opinions for Shear Madness: Murderously Funny Comedy
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: