Review: Shear Madness at La Comedia Dinner Theatre

"Unlike anything you’ve seen before"—Mike Woody reviews hilarious whodunnit show at La Comedia

I won’t go so far as to call him wise, but the late ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper, a professional wrestler, is known for saying, “Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions.” The quote is fitting for ‘Shear Madness’ a hilarious whodunnit, in which the audiences detective skills determines the ending/the murderer. More than just observers, the thoughts of the audience takes center stage, literally, by actively participating in the investigation. When the curtains open, the actors don’t know how it will end. The answer to, ‘Who did it?’ is continuously evolving, due to the audiences questions.

Other than another great performance by Karie-Lee Sutherland, there’s a lot about ‘Shear Madness’ that strays from the norm. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen before at La Comedia. With the exception of being a non-musical, the first half of Act 1 is pretty standard. Then everything starts to change. The fourth wall is broken as audience participation begins. Be sure to pay close attention to all the happenings as the cast aims to reenact everything that has occurred. It’s up to the audience to shout out any inconsistencies. It’s the only show where shouting, ‘No, that’s not right,’ is welcomed. During the intermission the cast remains on stage, interacting with each other and the audience. Plus, in the lobby, you can give ‘the detective’ questions to ask the suspects and assist in the investigation.

The play is heavily improvised with the inclusion of punchlines about current event, including politics, and currently there is a wealth of material to choose from. It’s set in a unisex salon, where the tenant, residing above, is murdered. The culprit has to be someone who was at the salon.

The quick thinking cast never slows down enough for a dull moment. Chris Beiser steps out of the shadows as director, and straight into the spotlight as the owner of the salon. There’s nothing else straight about the overly flamboyant character…except straight up hilarious. With Beiser’s history of directing, he clearly has a mind for theater, and his wealth of knowledge is on full display in this performance. Not only does his charisma radiate, but Beiser knows exactly what to do to maximize every opportunity to get a laugh. In addition, he furthered my desire to see ‘Hello, Dolly,’ but now with the twist of Beiser in the lead role.

The aforementioned Karie- Lee Sutherland is strong, as the flirtatious Barbara DeMarco, the other hairdresser. Sutherland always excels in such roles, where her southern charm is on display. The customers/ other suspects are the wealthy socialite, Eleanor Shubert, played by Linda Dew. Dew is as rich with talent as her character is with greenbacks. After enjoying John Dorney in some supporting roles, it is good seeing him in a larger role as Eddie Lawrence, an antiques collector. Perhaps my favorite line from the whole show was from Dorney, a one word response to, ‘Anything you say can or will be held against you.’

Dylan Jackson and Jonathan Pendergrass both play characters who are more than they appear to be. They are always welcome additions to any show. Jackson’s entrance is the first of many laughs he delivers. ‘Shear Madness’ is the perfect platform for Jackson as he’s skilled at improv and audience interaction. It may not be equivalent to murder, but a second crime committed is the underuse of Pendergrass.

I’m tempted to see the show a second time, not just for another round (okay two rounds) of the buffet but to see a different conclusion. I’m curious of how each character would portray being found to be the killer. As a long - time fan of pro wrestling, I’ve seen countless wrestlers come and go and Roddy Piper is one I’ll never forget. Of all the shows I’ve seen at La Comedia, I’ll also always remember ‘Shear Madness.’

Show info: Shear Madness at La Comedia Dinner Theatre

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