Shear Madness
Closed 2h 0m
Shear Madness
78

Shear Madness NYC Reviews and Tickets

78%
(387 Ratings)
Positive
83%
Mixed
14%
Negative
3%
Members say
Funny, Entertaining, Clever, Hilarious, Delightful

About the Show

The New York premiere of America’s longest running comedy is a whodunit set in a Hell's Kitchen hair salon, filled with up-to-the-minute humor and nail-biting suspense.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (387)

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141 Reviews | 28 Followers
100
Entertaining, Funny, Great acting, Great staging, Hilarious

See it if Love Who Dun its! Mysteries and interactive shows.

Don't see it if don't like interactive shows. don't have a sense of humor.

240 Reviews | 68 Followers
100
Clever, Entertaining, Funny, Hilarious, Quirky

See it if You want to laugh; you enjoy whodunits, interactive shows, and improvisation. If you want an even more ridiculous version of Edwin Drood.

Don't see it if You want to be a passive audience member, don't like whodunits or comedy, want something dramatic.

71 Reviews | 6 Followers
100
Clever, Entertaining, Hilarious, Intelligent, Refreshing

See it if you like to be entertained

Don't see it if you do not like to ask questions

121 Reviews | 23 Followers
100
Funny, Clever, Entertaining

See it if Afunny interactive show

Don't see it if no reason not to see

85 Reviews | 31 Followers
99
Absorbing, Clever, Entertaining

See it if You like murder mysteries, you like improv, you like physical comedy.

Don't see it if You aren't up to date on current events, you don't like corny jokes, you are stuck up and snooty.

74 Reviews | 8 Followers
98
Clever, Delightful, Entertaining, Funny, Great acting

See it if Comedy and mystery

Don't see it if You don't like audience participation

548 Reviews | 1899 Followers
97
Clever, Funny, Hilarious, Intelligent, Original

See it if So funny! A must see for any theater fan. A hilarious night out!! Great and talented cast

Don't see it if Who done its are not your thing.

77 Reviews | 12 Followers
95
Entertaining, Hilarious, Intelligent, Must see, Original

See it if You want to laugh harder than you've ever laughed, and if you're talkative...

Don't see it if You don't enjoy contemporary humor or are easily offended.

Critic Reviews (31)

The New York Times
November 11th, 2015

"Where 'Shear Madness' has the advantage is in its inclusive spirit of fun…This is genuinely all-ages entertainment, not a 'family-friendly' show that will leave grown-ups stultified...The tone depends hugely on the performers, and here this production does very well, particularly with Mr. Noonan, who, as the lead investigator, is impressively skilled at crowd control, and Mr. Ahnquist, whose Tony is an unapologetic sprite."
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Time Out New York
November 12th, 2015

"Director Bruce Jordan has gathered an excellent cadre of character actors for 'Shear Madness’s' belated New York premiere…Well acted if not exactly captivating, 'Shear Madness' is as insubstantial as Trump’s coiffure. It’s entertainment whipped up for those who find murder, at least in fictional form, potentially uproarious."
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Variety
November 11th, 2015

"Extended out-of-town tryouts are the stuff of legend — but 36 years? 'Shear Madness,' with franchises all over the country, was originally intended to open in New York after a 1980 Boston tryout. But Beantown audiences were so receptive that the show just kept running...The comedy still isn’t sharp enough for Gotham, but the show’s improvisational nature demands constant topical updates — and New Yorkers won’t be shy about telling the company where to go."
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The Hollywood Reporter
November 11th, 2015

"The script features a barrage of lame one-liners and predictable gags...The overall atmosphere is so giddily loony that it becomes infectious, and the talented ensemble work so hard at getting laughs that their efforts are justly rewarded."
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Theatermania
November 11th, 2015

"Using a thoroughly realistic set and equally authentic costumes, Jordan's staging is absurdly enjoyable, even in its weaker moments. True, the cast members have been directed to be too loud, and the dialogue is more ungainly than graceful. But all such quibbles disappear when everyone in the room has one focused goal: to figure out who killed Isabel. 'Shear Madness' is like a funny version of Law & Order — and it's the perfect show for those among us who think we can spot the murderer."
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Lighting & Sound America
November 18th, 2015

"A show that will appeal to bachelorette parties, groups spending a night on the town, and others looking for a few laughs -- but who are not necessarily interested in the theatre per se -- 'Shear Madness' is essentially beyond criticism. The audience at the performance I attended had a fine time. I was aghast, then mildly amused -- and I voted with the majority for the killer."
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Talkin' Broadway
November 11th, 2015

"There's nothing of note to care about in the script...The audience's questions and eagle eyes push the cast and the story in new directions, and reveal a bewilderingly in-depth amount of detail beneath the craziness. That's what makes 'Shear Madness' so special despite its pedestrian underpinnings: You're seeing the purest expression of theatre, with the performers and audience in such symbiotic communion that they must create something bigger together than would otherwise be possible."
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TheaterScene.net
November 12th, 2015

"The energizing conceit of the play is its reliance on audience participation that adds considerably to the entertainment…The quick-witted Mr. Noonan really has to steer the show and he winningly does this with his great comedic timing, terrific improvisational skills, everyman persona, and by blowing a police whistle to establish order…New Yorkers can now finally experience the mirthfully compelling antics of 'Shear Madness.'"
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