SHEAR MADNESS RETURN SEASON

Cast of extremely clever and uproarious production back in full force at Catalina. (Review by Caroline Smart)

Marc Kay, Clare Mortimer; Michael Gritten; Daisy Spencer, Dhaveshan Govender and Loyiso MacDonald are back in full force – and on top form - at the Catalina Theatre in the return of Shear Madness after its highly successful run over the last festive season.

Described as America’s greatest theatrical success story, it opened in Boston, USA, in January 1980. This production is acknowledged as the second longest-running non-musical play in the world (after The Mousetrap). It’s an extremely clever concept which requires intense focus from the actors as the outcome of the whodunit relies entirely on audience response.

The setting is a unisex hair salon run by over-the-top stylist Tom Whitcomb (Marc Kay) and his chirpy assistant Barbara Demarco (Daisy Spencer). The action is well underway as audience members take their seats, giving a hint of the hilarious proceedings that are to follow.

Among the clients waiting to be attended to are two men who later turn out to be police officers: the long-suffering Detective Nick Hlatshwayo (Loyiso MacDonald) and his over-eager assistant Mikey Naidoo (Dhaveshan Govender) who executes the fastest dash across stage I’ve seen in a long time when the reputation of his precious soccer team is threatened.

Other clients are the elegant Mrs Eleanor Schubert (Clare Mortimer) and an antique dealer called Eddie Lawrence (Michael Gritten), the latter never getting as far as the washbasin!

Into this mildly chaotic scenario comes a real drama, the death upstairs of a well-known concert pianist. The police reappear and stylists and clients alike become suspects in her murder.

The audience is encouraged to spot inaccuracies in the suspects’ version of their actions and also air their suspicions as to who is the murderer. Having delighted in the first season, I was able to sit back and take more notice of the audience reactions which provided fascinating added entertainment. Every night the cast are giving away a Schwartzkopf product to the witness with the most outrageous hairstyle as adjudged by the suspects during the interval.

This kind of production is scary stuff for the cast as the action can go three different ways. So they need to be on their toes to field any response from the audience. Prior to the first season, Durban producer / director Themi Venturas was required to travel to the States to be trained by the international team on the necessary improv skills, and briefed about the production process to ensure that the Durban production meets the international standards and that the cast have the necessary improvisation and unscripted performance skills. Talking to those who have seen this production in the States, our cast compares extremely favourably! All are fine performers in their own right but this production rockets them to another level entirely.

Added to an already shifting landscape of performance is the challenge to include current affairs so sari draping refers to the Indian Premier League matches, Julius Malema gets a mention and street re-naming is again up for caustic comment.

As I mentioned in my last review, if you want to see the full process, then grab a bunch of friends and make sure you vote a different character guilty each night and watch how the cast resolve the situation. As the departing detective quips in his final line: “Whichever way you vote, that’s the way we’ll play it!”

Presented by Theatrebiz by arrangement with the Marton Agency and produced, directed and designed by Themi Venturas, Shear Madness runs at Catalina Theatre until May 24. Tickets R80 (R50 pensioners and students for evening shows). Schools Performance R40 pp (one teacher free for every 10 scholars). There are Buy 1 get 1 free specials on Saturdays at 17h00 and Sundays at 14h00. The production is suitable for teenagers upwards.

Booking office number 031 305 6889 between 09h00 and 16h00 from Monday to Friday and from 09h00 and 13h00 on Saturdays. The box office is closed on Sundays but tickets available online at www.ticket.co.za. For more info – call Thandeka on 031 305 6889/ 3057612 or e-mail tsibisi@mweb.co.za

The Catalina Theatre is still functioning thanks to the generosity and support from Rainbow Chicken, National Arts Council and Ethekwini Municipality. – Caroline Smart