| Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Live | |
| Director: | Benjamin Maio Mackay |
| Producer: | Benjamin Maio Mackay and Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage |
| Setting: | 1950s |
| Premiere: | 18 February 2015 |
| Place: | Capri Theatre Adelaide |
| Orig Lang: | English |
| Starring: | Benjamin Maio Mackay, Julia Sciacca, Eden Trebilco and Jennifer Barry |
| Genre: | Comedy/Mystery |
| Web: | http://www.preachrspodcast.net/ |
Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Live is an Australian Comedy-Mystery radio show that debuted in 2015.
The original production was performed in the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2015 and premiered at the Capri Theatre.
The show was set in the 1950s and the line up of shows included Dragnet, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar and Candy Matson. Maio Mackay, Trebilco and Sciacca played the leads in each respectively.[1] [2] [3]
The show's plot centered around recreating the experience of attending a 1950s radio drama recording. The show drew heavily on elements from the 1950s "the golden age of radio drama." The original show featured three original stories, and the touring edition also featured three but eventually eliminated the finale story. The show is notable for featuring minimal audience interaction and the actors are able to "break," as the cast are playing actors playing characters - so they are aware of the audiences' presence. The show was adapted, directed and produced by Benjamin Maio Mackay.[4]
In 2016 the show was revived by Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage and this new version toured Australia.
The revised show featured two Candy Matson stories and one Johnny Dollar story. The cast was reduced to Benjamin Maio Mackay, Julia Sciacca, Eden Trebilco, and Jennifer Barry. The show was again adapted and directed by Benjamin Maio Mackay. It opened in September 2016 in the Sydney Fringe.[1]
The 2016/2017 version features a guest star in every performance. They have 6 lines across the play, but remain onstage the entire show. A variety of media personalities, musical theatre performers and TV stars have taken on the role. No guest stars appeared in Mount Gambier or in the 2018 production.[5]
On release, the show received mostly positive feedback.
Australian newspaper The Advertiser rated the show 4/5 stars.[6]
The show received a number of 2016 Broadway World Award Theatre Nominations, including; Best Actor (Maio Mackay and Trebilco), Best Actress (Sciacca), Best Supporting Actress (Barry), Best Director (Maio Mackay), and Best Play.[7]