Gumshoe

Comedy Noir by Frank Oden & Reno Goodale

Hard-boiled, bungling detective Nick Slade is framed for a murder he can't be sure he didn't commit. Set in 1940, his 'investigation' is fraught with femme-fatales and riddled with blazing bullets in film-noir cinematic style.

Production details

World premiere

Original VenueHeritage Square Music Hall
OpenSeptember 4, 1988
CloseOctober 30, 1988

Original cast list

Nick SladeTJ Mullin
Constance BeechBren. Eyestone
Hamilton BeechTerry Rhoads
Loretta NoneShelly Cox-Robie
Dutch FiscoBarry Brown
Ricky The LipMark Rubald
Dixie NoneHeather Rubald

Production credits

Original ProducerTJ Mullin
Avenue ProducerFrank Oden
DirectorFrank Oden
DesignerReno Goodale
ChoreographerLise Simms

Recordings

Original cast Video - Private Archive
Avenue cast Video - Private Archive

Scenes & music

Act I · Scene 1The Beech Mansion
Act I · Scene 2Nick Slade's Office
Act I · Scene 3The Strip & Gyp
Song"All of Me"

(Original music by Seymore Simmons & Gerald Marks - ASCAP)
Alternate Lyrics by F.Oden & R. Goodale)

Act II · Scene 1Nick Slade's Offices
Act II · Scene 2The Beech Mansion
CrossoverCar Chase
Act II · Scene 3The Beech Mansion

Subsequent commercial productions

The Avenue Theatre Denver, CO 1990 · 12 weeks*
Martin City Melodrama Kansas City, MO May 23, 1991 – July 7, 1991
Loveland Theatre Company Loveland, CO 1993 · 3 weeks
Preservation Playhouse Midwest City, OK October 8, 1998 – November 14, 1998 · 17 performances

Changes in subsequent production

Script Expanded for Avenue Theatre production, scenes added/revised.

The Music Hall and Avenue Theatre productions were staged "In Living Black and White." Cinematic style drops, set pieces and period costumes all designed in monochrome for overall film-noir effect.