Shear Madness is both a play and a theatrical phenomenon. Based on a 1963 German experimental drama, Bruce Jordan and Marilyn Abrams transformed it into a comedy set in a hair salon. Their adaptation premiered in a small village in upstate New York in 1976 before moving to Boston in 1980, where the show enjoyed an extraordinary forty-year run, finally closing in 2023. Since then, it has been translated into numerous languages and produced around the world, confirming its status as a cut above the average whodunit. The action takes place in a bustling hair salon where two stylists and four customers learn that the upstairs neighbour, a former concert pianist, has suffered the unkindest cut of all. When the police arrive, the audience is enlisted to comb through the evidence, cut through the misdirection, and tie up the loose ends. The first act is packed with sharp one-liners and an infectious energy that keeps events clipping along at a brisk pace. The cast is excellent, with standout turns from Daniel Cane as the flamboyant hairdresser, Natalie Ogle as the snobbish client, and Paul O’Neill as the detective and deft ringmaster of the entire affair. However, the show really comes into its own once the audience is drawn into the investigation. Questions from the floor range from perceptive to utterly surreal, and the cast respond with remarkable wit, improvising effortlessly and incorporating every unexpected twist into the action. Those reluctant to step into the spotlight need not worry. The play is interactive, not intrusive. No one is obliged to participate, and it is equally possible to simply sit back and enjoy the increasingly absurd proceedings. No two performances are ever the same, and the audience ultimately decides who is guilty. The success of Shear Madness depends entirely on the quick thinking of its cast, and this company never lets an opportunity for a quip pass by. Their comic timing is razor sharp, their improvisation fearless, and their rapport with the audience ensures that every performance develops its own distinctive style. Combined with the excellent luncheon or dinner that has become a hallmark of the Mill at Sonning, Shear Madness makes for a delightful day out. Clever, consistently funny, and different every time, this is an enduring theatrical experience that hasn't lost its edge.
Rated: ★★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Pamela Raith
When, Where, Getting there:
- June 25 - August 15, 2026
- Wednesday - Saturday: 8:15 pm. Restaurant open and serving dinner from 6 pm - 7:15 pm
- Saturday & Sunday: July 5, 12, 19 & 26 at 2:15 pm. Restaurant open and serving lunch from 12 pm - 1:15 pm
- Show-only matinees: July 9 & 30 at 2 pm
- The Mill at Sonning
- Nearest station: Reading
- https://millatsonning.com/Events/shear-madness/
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