Review: Spooky Dog and the Teen-Age Gang Mysteries

Review by Kath M on the 24 July 2024 at 7pm performance.

Evilcorp Horror Maze and Bar, Fortitude Valley

Presented by Drama Merchant

Who doesn’t have a memory of watching Scooby Doo and buddies in their van solving mysteries? 

Spooky Dog & the Teen-Age Gang Mysteries written by Eric Pilner and Amy Rhodes is being presented by the Drama Merchant at Evilcorp Horror and Maze Bar – is not like the show you remember!

This show is a totally irreverent and hilarious parody of Saturday morning cartoons – definitely for adults only. 

This is scripted improv theatre where the audience chooses a celebrity (at this performance – Donald Trump), a saying (I’ve come to a point in my life where I need a stronger word than F**K) and a prop (a dog leash) in a site specific venue – in this case the Evilcorp Horror Maze – an integral part of the familiar and immortal spooky dog sequence of the cartoon.  

The teenage investigators and their talking dog are on a mission at a county fair to find their friend aka Donald Trump, face a ghost, a fortune teller and a sinister couple who run the fairgrounds. The venue and it’s décor are perfect for the underlying mystery theme.

This energetic, hilarious show full of innuendos – sexual and otherwise was BRILLIANT! It was bit raunchy, and a bit camp and you will recognise the familiar gang in ways you’ve never seen before! Word of warning – if you are easily offended – don’t go.

With improv theatre, the wit and spontaneity of the performers never cease to amaze me and this show did not disappoint! Exceptional performances by every cast member and Chantelle Miller playing Tiffany was a stand out.  

Don’t let the possibility of being picked from the audience to participate put you off and missing out on 90 mins of riotous laughs – you can let them know at the door if you want to participate or not. Have a drink, a bite to eat from the bar and sit back, enjoy the chaos and hysteria that evolves.

Personally, I’d love to go again and see what the cast from Drama Merchant would do with another celebrity, saying and prop. I’m confident it would have the same (but different) laughs, energy and innuendos!