The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘Shear Madness’ now playing
IVORYTON — “Shear Madness,” one of the most popular comedy productions in the world, is now showing at the Ivoryton Playhouse. This iconic production was first produced in Boston in 1980 and has been delighting audiences ever since with its unique blend of madcap improvisation and spinetickling mystery.
This unique comedywhodunit takes place today in the Shear Madness hairstyling salon and is chock full of up-to-the-minute spontaneous humor.
During the course of the action, a murder is committed and the audience gets to spot the clues, question the suspects, and solve the funniest mystery in the annals of crime. The outcome is never the same, which is why many audience members return again and again to the scene of the mayhem.
Voted “Best Comedy of the Year” seven times by the Boston Globe and recipient of the title “Best Play of the Year” by both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Philadelphia Enquirer, Shear Madness has also received the Raven Award from the Mystery Writers of America and has been inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame, the first play ever to receive that accolade.
“Shear Madness” is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running play in the history of the USA. The flagship Boston company has given birth to 50 productions in the U.S. and Shear Madness has been translated into 23 foreign languages, playing worldwide in a host of cities including Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Paris, Rejkavik, Rome, Tel Aviv, Melbourne, Johannesburg and Seoul. Over 12.5 million people worldwide have joined in the fun.
The production features veteran performers Jordan Ahnquist, Patrick Noonan and Lisa McMillan, who have performed these roles many times – most recently in the off Broadway production. They will be joined by Ivoryton Playhouse alum Bill Mootus and Siobhan Fitzgerald, and Lev Harvey is making his Playhouse debut.
The production is directed by Robert Lohrmann with set design by Daniel Nischan, lighting design by Marcus Abbott and costume design by Liz Saylor.
Shear Madness runs through Oct. 6. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $55 for adults; $50 for seniors; $25 for students and $20 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org
Group rates are available by calling the box office for information. Discounted tickets after 6 p.m. on Thursdays; get a half price adult ticket, subject to availability.