Majestic Theater in West Springfield, Mass. Written by Paul Pörtner, directed by Bob Lohrmann. On March 12, 2020, after 40 years at the Charles Playhouse in Boston, “Shear Madness” closed its record-breaking run. It has been declared the longest running play in American history, and there are still productions cropping up all over the world. Originally seen in 1978, it has never aged due to its peculiar premise, and you can see it now at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, Mass. Its script is brief, and it changes every night because the cast has to improvise as much of it as possible, keeping the references it makes to local politics, business, and societal changes. Jokes may go flat some nights and be the height of hilarity at the next performance. What you need to know, part one, is that it is a murder mystery set in a beauty parlor in West Springfield at 4:30 one afternoon. The second thing you need to know is it is up to you to solve the crime and provide the police with as many clues as you can catch during the play. Act One leads up to the crime and into the investigation afterward. Act Two brings you close to the murderer and the motive.