Traditional theatrical conventions are of no importance in the new play, “You’ve Ruined a Perfectly Good Mystery,” playing at the MercLab Theatre. The work not only ignores the idea of a fourth wall between the audience and the stage, it takes a sledgehammer to it.
Written by Christian Neuhaus and Rick Stemm of Madison, the show is a creation that was inspired by an annual competition called the Blitz Smackdown. They have expanded the show from the 15-minute format to a full two-act production.
The premise of the show is a little tricky to describe because of the novelty that sets the show apart from your typical British mystery farce. They call it a “choose your own adventure theatrical tale.” Much like the “Choose Your Own Adventure” novels from youth, the audience participates in selecting scenes, actions and, eventually, the solution. The advertisement is that each show is different, but how dramatically different is up in the air.
The entire plot is narrated by, well, the narrator. Played by the wonderful Jamie England, her odd neurosis in creating off-beat similes and controlling the characters is one of the highlights of the production.
Set in London, A Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson-like duo investigates the disappearance of people who return with what appears like a severe, constant case of epilepsy. The Detective (Christopher Younggren) and the Doctor (Matthew A. Schrader) are a conducive pair that work well together, comically, to battle the villain, Iago Von Evilton (Matt Korda).
The love interest is Lady Bosom-Heaving (Karen Saari), not kidding, whose Tweety Bird accent, at times, disrupts from the content of her lines making them impossible to understand. Obviously, she is making a mockery of the stereotypical mysterious vixen, but it comes across a little too strong and apparent. Then again, a name like Lady Bosom-Heaving isn’t exactly subtle.
The direction by Sam D. White uses space very effectively in such a theater as the MercLab, which has an extremely intimate setting. She creates each scene as if there was a dramatic set change, (much like the off-Broadway show, “The 39 Steps”) which shows a subtle brilliance in such a silly work.
For the innovation of the show’s ‘choose your own adventure’ bit, the actual impact the audience has on the story seems nil. Whether you choose drugs or sex (we chose sex), France or Ireland (Ireland), the detectives are going to arrive at the conclusion of the tale no matter what. The final scene in which the audience chooses the ending appears to be the only part in which a scene could be dramatically different.
That’s not to say that the show loses its pace. The actors seem to be having as much fun as the audience, which keeps the energy alive. Everyone in the cast has a connection that is obvious and perfect for such an intimate setting, because intimacy is key in a show that constantly engages its audience.
The chemistry between the Narrator and the Detective is especially captivating. It seems as if the Detective has cut the umbilical cord to the story’s creator and their banter back and forth delivers some of the largest laughs throughout the night.
The show has its downfalls in terms of production value but makes good use of the space, scenery and costumes with a minimalist budget. Actually, they even poke fun at that fact, and the self-realization makes it seem not so taboo.
The play does not take itself seriously, and the audience should do the same. While you may not be walking into a life-changing experience, a new twist on traditional theatre is somewhat refreshing – and, yes, fun.
“You’ve Ruined a Perfectly Good Mystery” will be playing at the MercLab at 930 N. Fair Oaks Ave. through Sept. 25. Tickets are $15.
