Upon entering the eerie basement confines of Evilcorp Horror Maze and Bar, I was thrust into the whimsical world of “Spooky Dog and the Teenage Gang Mysteries,” presented by The Drama Merchant. This zany escapade parodies Scooby-Doo with plenty of improv and raunchy humour. The venue was transformed into a playground for this spoof, with the entire space—the stairs, the bar, cabaret tables, and even the maze itself—used as the stage.
Written in 2008 by Eric Pliner and Amy Rhodes, the show follows a team of friends who solve mysteries - including leader Ted, clueless Tiffany, clever Thelma, hungry Scraggly, and their talking pooch Spooky Dog - as they investigate the disappearance of a celebrity at a creepy county fair. Directed by Nathan Schulz, this production was as delightfully unpredictable as the wheel of fate spun before the show. On the day I attended, the audience randomly chose none other than the legendary Jesus Christ himself as the kidnapped celebrity, along with a random prop and quote for the actors to incorporate; a different selection for each show.
From the beginning, it was obvious that this play was anything but ordinary. The actors were provided with a script and scenario to work with - Jesus Christ being abducted by what appears to be a maze phantom - but the rest was up to their improvisational skills. This setup resulted in a whirlwind of impromptu humour and brilliant chaos. The improv aspect proved to be both a blessing and a challenge, as the actors occasionally struggled to synchronise their improvisation without talking over each other. I learned that about 70% of the performance I saw was improvised, which I find incredibly impressive; plus it makes each show one-of-a-kind.
While the show was a tad lengthy and not every joke landed as intended — possibly due to the busy nature of the show — the overall experience was a riot. A real highlight was the show's self-awareness. The actors roasted the local Fortitude Valley scene, sprinkling an extra dose of meta-humour into the mix. The performers didn't shy away from breaking the performer-audience barrier; especially when a few brave souls got pulled into the act. We even found ourselves right in the middle of a wild chase scene inside the horror maze, with "Ballroom Blitz" blaring in the background as we ran away from the phantom alongside the characters.
The Characters:
Spooky Dog (Mikayla Melo): As the titular character, Melo infused the mix of cowardice and goofiness that is characteristic of this beloved and well-known canine. Her character's interactions with the audience and fellow cast members never failed to bring laughter, especially while miming an entire scene with an audience member.
Thelma (Jay Louise Clark): Clark really turned the nerdy character trope on its head. She played Thelma in a delightfully different (and canonically legit) way, dropping plenty of sexual innuendos about her crush on Tiffany. And when she got trapped in a giant cage, Clark hilariously riffed on JC (Jesus Christ) in a spontaneous comedic routine.
Tiffany (Chantelle Miller): Rocking the red hair and go-go boots, Miller perfectly portrayed Tiffany's ditzy nature, often being pulled around the stage like a rag-doll. Her martini-sipping antics and spaced-out demeanour seemed like a blast to play.
Teddy (Daniel Pohlmann): Pohlmann's consistent smoulder, self-admiring, cravat-wearing characterisation was perfection. Along with his physicality and voice that could rival Freddie Prinze Jr, Pohlmann delivered some hilarious moments that truly stood out to me. And the dance-off "foreplay" where Teddy and Tiffany channel Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake... was so out of left field and ridiculously memorable!
Scraggly (Mikey Real): Embracing the munchies-snacking, voice-cracking persona, Mikey Real transforms Scraggly into scruffy loveable idiot. With his lightning-fast improv, Scraggly became the character that captured my attention the most during the entire show, leaving me eager to hear what he would say next.
Mrs Woodhaven and Fortuana (Cecile Campbell) and Big Woody (Caleb Turner): These extra characters brought another element of absurdity to the show, with Campbell basically pulling a Jekyll and Hyde, while Turner rocks an oversized persona that cranks up the cheekiness even more.
Director Nathan Schulz deserves praise for producing such an engaging performance in a diverse performance venue with just a handful of performers. He ensures that everyone's attention is focused on the antics between the actors, allowing him to throw in some whimsical props like a giant hamburger or a spooky pumpkin head. You can tell he dedicated a lot of time and effort to make sure the group's chemistry is top-notch, enabling them to keep the banter flowing with jokes and snappy comebacks.
The most memorable aspect was unquestionably the commitment shown by the entire cast in embodying their over-the-top characters. What distinguishes this parody from others is the boldness of the creators in spoofing such a widely recognised children's cartoon. With a show like this, it's crucial to leave your sour face at home and just enjoy the wild ride for what it is! In short, “Spooky Dog and the Teenage Mystery Gang” was a devilishly fearless romp that fully embraced its own nuttiness with a willingness to take risks.