It’s one thing to see a show played out before you. It’s another experience entirely when the show requires immense audience participation. The latter is precisely the case with CATCO-Phoenix’s production of Encyclopedia Brown, the story of a sharp-witted boy able to solve all of the most puzzling crimes in his town of Idaville.
Originally written by Donald J. Sobol, and adapted by CATCO-Phoenix Artistic Director Steven C. Anderson, the short play is charming, engaging, entertaining, and able to amuse even the youngest audience members. The short-form mysteries are easy enough for children to follow, the game-show format of the show encourages audience interaction, and the characters on the stage are colorful and amusing.
At the conclusion of each mystery skit, the main character of Leroy Brown has somehow found a way to solve the case. But his logic is never explained until later, after the audience—and teams onstage of audience participants—get the chance to “match wits” with the boy detective. Riddles and general logic are prominent in the show from the very start, when audience members are asked a series of general knowledge questions in order to select the six audience members to sit on the two teams.
The cast acts the show perfectly in order to entertain and engage its youngest viewers. In the starring role of Leroy Brown, Anthony Baldasare is poised and believable. The ways in which he behaves onstage and delivers his lines give the immediate impression of a quick-witted boy who is always able to think out of the box. His father, Nick Baldasare, plays Leroy Brown’s father (Chief Brown) perfectly. The father-son dynamic comes to life on the stage. Encyclopedia Brown’s peers of Sally, Patsy, and Bugs Meany are played to perfection by Anna Haught, Rachel Schoeff, and Jabari I. Johnson respectively. There is no doubt that they are all very talented and have a great time performing this show. Finally, Mrs. Brown is played endearingly by Liz Wheeler, who brings to life the quintessential 1960s-era housewife so familiar to the older audience members.
While the actions and dialogue are sometimes a little over-the-top for adult audience members, the light-heartedness and overdramatic actions are perfect for the children. It truly feels like what one would see on a television show aimed toward a younger demographic, which makes it the perfect show for smaller children.
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