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The Boy Detective Fails: New Musical Based on Joe Meno's Novel

Signature Theatre (4200 Cambell Avenue Arlington, VA 22206)
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Full Price:
$68.00 - $87.00
Our Price:
$34.50 - $44.00*
3.7 by 15 members
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Signature Theatre presents The Boy Detective Fails, a new musical based on the surreal, yet sweetly earnest novel by Joe Meno. The musical has a book by Meno himself with music and lyrics by rising talent, Adam Gwon. Billy Argo was a boy detective, along the lines of Encyclopedia Brown or the Hardy Boys. In his adulthood, he is a man crippled by the grief of the one mystery he could never solve -- the death of his sister and partner in crime-solving, Caroline. Returning to his home after an extended stay in an institution for the mentally ill, Billy finds a world of strangeness he can barely comprehend, where he finds the courage to embrace love, and the impossible solution to the mystery of his sister's death.

* Additional fees apply.

All offers for The Boy Detective Fails have expired.

The last date listed for The Boy Detective Fails was Sunday September 25, 2011 / 7:00pm.

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Our Price:
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Signature Theatre
4200 Cambell Avenue
Arlington, VA 22206
Website
703-820-9771
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14 Goldstar Member Reviews

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Rating_4_0
Final result was puzzling. Certain characters not fully fleshed out as to their purpose in the musical. Very well sung and staged.
Written on Sep 26 2011

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Rating_5_0
Really great show, very sweet and funny but also quite serious. I wouldn't take very little kids, but 15+ would probably enjoy it.

Does have some dark moments but it is a very endearing story and the cast is awesome.

Also do note the show starts right at 8, we got there at 8:04 and had to be escorted to some alternate seats.
Written on Sep 19 2011

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Rating_4_0
On the whole, an enjoyable show with many great parts. The entire cast gave good performances in this new musical. A slightly long prologue gave the show an amateurish/uneven start, but the show got better from there. The Professor's first song was the weakest as it was poor imitation of a pastiche number. Penny's song and then subsequent duet were highlights of the first act. The character of the Professor provides some the best laughs throughout the rest of the show. The lyrics were clever and some of the music sticks in your head, but not most. I did come away singing "Billy Argot Boy Detective" over and over. Stephen Gregory Smith was engaging as Billy Argot. Margo Seibert and James Gardiner showed great range as his sister and best friend. Anika Larsen did a great job with a slightly uneven character. The production did a good job bringing to life this slight off world. The story is an homage to the "boy detective" stories like Encyclopedia Brown and that reminded me most of the television show "Pushing Daisies" with a little bit of "Our Town" sprinkled in. It is the best new musical I've seen as part of the AMVP at Signature, (better than both "Sycamore Trees", "And the Curtain Rises"). It was a fun show and I would recommend it.
Written on Aug 27 2011

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Rating_4_0
A fun evening ... kept me interested ... and entertained
Written on Sep 23 2011

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All 14 Reviews

More Information About The Boy Detective Fails

Website

http://www.signature-theatre.org/shows/the-boy-detective-fails

Quotes & Highlights

  • “[Adam Gwon is] an extremely talented composer and lyricist” who “is seriously going places.” — The New York Sun, StageSpace.com

Description

Book by Joe Meno
Music & Lyrics by Adam Gwon
Based on novel The Boy Detective Fails by Joe Meno
Scenic Design Derek McLane
Costume Design Kathleen Geldard
Lighting Design Chris Lee
Sound Design Matt Rowe
Orchestrations Andy Einhorn
Music Directon Gabriel Mangiante
Choreographed by Karma Camp
Directed by Joe Calarco

The Boy Detective Fails, based on Joe Meno’s acclaimed novel, tells the story of Billy Argo, “boy detective.” In the twilight of a childhood full of wonder, a broken-hearted Billy faces a mystery he can’t comprehend – the shocking death of his young sister and crime-solving partner, Caroline. Ten years later, a 30-year old Billy returns to his quiet New Jersey town after an extended stay at St. Vitus’ Hospital for the mentally ill. Although determined to solve the mystery of Caroline’s death and right old wrongs, he instead discovers a world full of unimaginable strangeness, beauty and love.

About the Ticket Supplier: Signature Theatre

Signature Theatre is a Tony Award(r)-winning, non-profit professional theater company with a mission to produce contemporary musicals and plays, reinvent classic musicals, develop new work, and reach its community through engaging educational and outreach opportunities.