Have you ever wondered what your favorite literary characters would do after they clock out of being read for the day? How would they unwind? Who would be their out-of-genre friends? With this intriguing idea bubbling in our heads, we decided to create a show to answer that question. But another idea wriggled into our minds. What happens when a literary character is forgotten? Over thousands of years of literature, we combed to find the famous, the infamous, and the obscure characters to populate this family-friendly adventure into the world of reading. Crack open our huge magic book and step into the pages for our 36th Master Mystery Production…

SHELF LIFE

After hours at a bookstore is when the real story begins. Tired from their shifts being read by people all day long, some of the best known literary characters step out from the pages and take a little “me time” in the quiet store. King Arthur and Sherlock Holmes catch up over their ongoing board game, and Juliet never forgets to make time for tea with Jane Eyre. However, tonight their restful evening in gets shaken up by a newcomer: a literary character who has forgotten who she is. Her book has been neglected by readers for a long time, and her memories of herself are fading fast. Which means she’s fading too. And time’s running out before the bookstore reopens and they all return to the world of ink and paper. Can her fellows in fiction be able to solve the mystery of her identity and give her a sense of self again? Or is her shelf life going to run out?

Shelf Life is our fifth collaboration with Red Rock Books with a unique twist. The play stars and is designed by local students to teach them about the magic of working in theatre. From designing costumes to imagining makeup inspired by annotated book pages to painting a giant, magic book the characters will step out of, the kids have their hands in many, many aspects of the production. This was our chance to foster the growth of a new generation of theatre artists and introduce them to the art and craft we are passionate about and the literature the world loves. Be prepared for flights of fantasy…and mystery…and adventure…and horror…and legend…and many more genres in between!

Shelf Life performs November 8, 9, 15, and 16, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at Red Rock Books (206 W. Ridgecrest Blvd.) in Ridgecrest. Doors open 7 p.m. Seats are first come, first served. Once all the seats are filled, the show becomes standing room only. Tickets are $20 each. Tickets are sold through this link. A limited number of physical tickets can be purchased in-person at Red Rock Books. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to dress as their favorite literary character. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Come join Master Mystery Productions for another magical mystery! We’ll see you at the show!

–Master Mystery Productions