•August 17, 2016•

By Cheryl Murphy
For the News Progress

How could murder be funny? Just imagine a Carol Burnett sketch in cahoots with Law and Order. “Shear Madness” is a present day, whodunit play that is interactive with the audience and where getting a haircut is murder. The play is loaded with improvisations (lines made up on the spot) that turn current events and local references into up-to-the-minute jokes. Some local references I enjoyed were about area towns, Amish buggies, Coroner Lynn Reed, Dollar General, and McDonald’s. A few of the current events I caught were about Gluten-free products, Prozac, Grey’s Anatomy, Bruce Jenner becoming Caitlin, rooming with Blagojevich, Harry Potter, and Delta flights to nowhere. All this local and current-event fare keeps each show unique, loony, and contagious.

“Shear Madness” is also the name of the wacky beauty shop set right here in Sullivan where all ages can be serviced and the 70’s and 80’s hit songs play. Sexual innuendos are made, but those should go over the younger patrons’ heads while they listen for the online references, Justin Bieber jokes, and watching all the silliness. It’s on the order of the old-time comedy club routines. “Shear Madness” is adapted from a 1963 German play and actually debuted in 1980 in Boston where audiences were so receptive to the silly fun it has played there for 36 years. Washington D.C. picked it up and hasn’t stopped laughing for 28 years, and it has played in Chicago for 18 years. Recently, NYC has decided to get in on the craziness, too; it will be coming there soon. That makes “Shear Madness” America’s all-time favorite comedy.
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