In November of 1977, BULLSHOT CRUMMOND was produced by the Salt Lake Acting
Company. James Morrison played the title role, Bullshot
Crummond.
Professor Fenton (a wild-haired Einstein type)
is kidnapped by Otto Von Brunno and his assistant/wife,
Lenya (respectively a heel clicking German and
seductress). They try to torture Prof. Fenton to get the
formula to manufacture "zinzetic" diamonds. Of
course, they haven't got a chance when Bullshot Crummond
(an aristocratic Englishman whose crime-solving ability
is matched only by his ego) and Prof. Fenton's daughter,
Rosemary (a Julie Andrews-type with a body), are just one
step behind him.
To rescue Prof. Fenton, Crummond uses every absurd method
ever devised including carrier pigeons, disguises,
incredible deduction, bugging equipment, voice
impersonations, signals and still others. And developing
through all of this is a romance between Rosemary and
Crummond. Synopsized from review by Colleen Reichert for
Chronicle
"The
opening scene sets the stage for the craziness that
continues throughout the play. The effect of a crashing
plane is achieved by someone in the back room dangling a
model airplane in front of a spotlight throwing shadow on
the backdrop. Fritz, Lenya Von Brunno's pet vulture, is a
few feathers stuck on a cardboard bird. Wigs that sort of
fit and dowdy costumes are other highlights of the
production
.
"In BULLSHOT CRUMMOND the adjectives good and bad
take on a very relative meaning. If the sets and costumes
weren't so bad, the play wouldn't be so good. This also
holds true for the acting. By the standards of any
serious production, it would be awful. But for BULLSHOT
CRUMMOND it is perfect. The play succeeds because it
isn't mediocre, it is really bad -- but the actors are so
good at being bad. Louis Borgenicht as Otto Von Brunno
and James Morrison as Crummond are especially good (or
bad)." Colleen Reichert
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