Great Detectives will bring mystery and comedy to Murray Bridge
For one night only, experience a live recording of two 1950s-style radio detective stories, adapted for the stage by Benjamin Maio Mackay.
This sponsored story is brought to you by Great Detectives.
If a night of intrigue, suspense and innuendo is what you’re after, Johnny Dollar and Candy Matson are on the case.
Two Great Detectives of 1950s radio fame will make a one-night-only appearance at Murray Bridge Performing Arts and Function Centre next Saturday, August 3.
Audiences will experience the twists and turns of two original mysteries as the show’s cast recreates the experience of a live recording session for an old-time radio serial.
Award-winning director Benjamin Maio Mackay described the show as a loving tribute to the radio gumshoes of the 1950s.
“In the 50s, our detectives had serialised stories and every week they’d be broadcast in front of a live studio audience,” he said.
“We recreate that experience … we’ve got vintage microphones, actors doing multiple characters, and a lot of physical comedy, too.
“If anybody has seen Clue, with Tim Curry, (it’s like that): there’s a lot of mystery but we have laughs, too.”
“It’s a bygone era I didn’t want to let die, and it’s not a theatre experience you can get anywhere else.”
That experience includes period clothing and sound effects created live on stage.
Improv Adelaide’s Eden Trebilco plays Johnny Dollar, a bumbling fool with an action-packed expense account.
Multi-talented off-Broadway performer Tate Simpson plays private investigator Candy Matson.
Maio Mackay, Jennifer Barry and Amy Sincock fill out the cast of the show, which was nominated for seven Broadway World theatre awards in 2016.
Great Detectives has been running, in one form or another, for 10 years now: originally as a live presentation of radio episodes from the 1950s, but more recently with original scripts by Maio Mackay.
Previous versions of the show received five-star reviews from Glam Adelaide and four stars from The Advertiser.
The current version debuted during this year’s Adelaide Fringe; and next weekend’s Murray Bridge performance will kick off a 10-show tour of regional South Australia.
Asked why he would present a radio play in a theatre, rather than as a podcast or similar, the director was adamant.
“I love live theatre, I love being on stage and connecting with audiences,” he said.
“You’re going to get a night of laughs, mystery and comedy … and it’ll be a high-quality night out for you, your kids or your grandma.
“You’ll find yourself going ‘oh, I want to know who did it…’”
- Performance: Great Detectives: All New Mysteries will be presented at Murray Bridge Performing Arts and Function Centre at 7.30pm on Saturday, August 3.
- Tickets: $55/39 at events.ticketbooth.com.au.
- More information: www.greatdetectivesaus.com.
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Peri Strathearn
