Amateur sleuths rule in murderous ‘Shear Madness’

By Rich Fahey

STONEHAM – A brand-new business has opened in downtown Stoneham, but only for a limited time, and appointments are going fast.

The comic interactive murder mystery “Shear Madness” is open for business at the Greater Boston Stage Company through Oct. 11. The play ran for 40 straight years at the Charles Playhouse in Boston, from January 1980 to March 2020, when Covid-19 finally shut it down. It is recognized as the longest-running non-musical in theater history.

Buoyed by members of the original cast, GBSC’s ultra-solid production  has everything that made the Boston production special. That includes an excellent cast of quirky, eclectic suspects; interactive features that have the audience front and center to the very end; and a fully functioning hair salon by Misfit Toys Theatrical LLC where the action takes place.

The Boston production was renowned for bringing local color into the show, set on Newbury Street in the Back Bay, by constantly updating it with local events and names. This show has a distinct North Shore flavor, with several area communities being hilariously dissed.

This show takes place in a hair salon in downtown Stoneham, where flamboyant owner Tony Whitcomb — played by Tyler Rosati, who also co-directed with Liz Dumaine – holds sway with gum-snapping, earthy colleague Barbara DeMarco (Ceit M. Zweil).

Even before the actual play begins, Tony and Barbara have been servicing customers onstage. Rosati reaches for every laugh available to his character as the oversexed Tony, constantly on the prowl for new blood and a walking, talking double-entendre.

“Shear Madness” requires actors who can not only inhabit the “types” who come into the salon, but also have the improv chops to change direction in a heartbeat when required.

The ringmaster at the center of the comic chaos is Joseph Marrella, a veteran of eight years spent in the Boston production, who plays undercover Stoneham cop Nick O’Brien. He poses as a customer in the salon until all hell breaks loose when famed concert pianist Isabel Czerny, an elderly woman who lives in the apartment directly above the hair salon, is found dead, a pair of hair shears found firmly planted in her throat.

It is up to him and his fellow undercover cop and somewhat dim colleague Mikey Thomas (Alex Leondedis) – as well as you, the audience members – to determine which one of the suspects did the deed.

All of the suspects have the means, the motive and the opportunity to commit the crime. They include Tony, who has had an oft-raging feud with the pianist over the constant noise from her practicing; Eddie Lawrence (Mark Linehan), an antiques dealer who seems to have a very friendly relationship with fellow suspect Barbara DeMarco, who is also friendly with the murdered pianist; and Mrs. Shubert (Cheryl L. McMahon), a wealthy matron from Manchester-by-the-sea intent on getting out of the salon and jetting down to Bermuda.

There are plenty of rapier sharp one-liners and the sight gags are just as much fun, as when Mikey transports critical evidence in “evidence bags” that clearly contain Dunkin’s iconic logo.

After Nick interviews the suspects about their behavior in the moments leading to the murder, he will ask audience members what they saw and how it might differ from the suspects’ version of events.

At intermission, Nick will retire to the lobby to speak with theatergoers about their theories about the murder; the suspects, meanwhile, will stay in character onstage, possibly dropping clues with their behavior.

If you have seen “Shear Madness” before, you know what comes next. Suffice it to say the audience stays involved until the very end.

The direction by Rosati and Dumaine is first-rate, and the entire cast is up for the give-and-take, highly improvisational aspects of the production.

So, amateur sleuths. Put down those true crime podcasts, don your Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hat, and book your appointments early. “Shear Madness” is only onstage through Oct. 11.

The Greater Boston Stage Company production of “Shear Madness.” Written by Paul Portner. Directed by Tyler Rosati and Liz Dumaine. At the Greater Boston Stage Company through Oct. 11. Greaterbostonstage.org.