There’s a show being staged at The Great American Melodrama that couldn’t be a more perfect choice to help celebrate the 50 years that this mighty theatre company in Oceano has been in business.
Shut Up, Sherlock and the accompanying effervescent vaudeville review, “The Golden Age,” are perfect examples of the pure enjoyment you can derive from well-written and well-executed live theatre.
As you might guess, Sherlock is a comedy that includes the iconic detective as a character, but this two-act show is way more than a simple whodunnit. It’s a play within a play, with actors (and their characters) playing multiple roles and a plot that keeps you guessing ’til the very end.
We have local playwright Ben Abbott to thank for writing this gem of a show. But director Eric Hoit, his creative production team, and a troupe of six immensely talented players have done an awesome job of staging what’s on the page.
There are surprises galore, comedic beats that must have taken many rehearsal days to get so right, and costume changes that couldn’t be more hilarious. Kudos to Barbara Abbott (costume design), Brandon PT Davis (scenic design), and Cody Soper (lighting design) for capturing just what is needed in each scene to make the production look seamless and effortless.
And make no mistake, while we are enjoying the smooth banter and fluid action, this show requires some complicated moves and a bit of theatre magic to make it such a delightful experience.
Melodrama newcomer Beth Siegling joins veterans Casiena Raether, Sydni Ramirez, Mike Fiore, Jeff Salsbury, and Toby Tropper in a cast who should consider taking this show on the road (except, of course, what would we do without them on the Central Coast?).
All in all, Shut Up, Sherlock is a wonderful and satisfying fit for the Melodrama’s 50th anniversary season.