At the Liberty:"The Sheep Detectives"

DAYTON – The film follows George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a shepherd who loves his sheep and raises them only for their wool. Every night, he reads murder mysteries aloud, pretending his sheep can understand. Not only can they understand, but they also argue afterward about whodunnit. When George is found dead under mysterious circumstances, the sheep realize it was murder and think they know how to solve it. The local cop, Tim Derry, has never solved a serious crime in his life, so the sheep conclude they will have to solve it themselves. It means leaving their meadow for the first time and facing the fact that the world isn’t as simple as it appears in books.

The cast includes Emma Thompson, Hugh Jackman, and Nicholas Braun. It is rated PG for thematic material, some violent content, and brief language with a runtime of 108 minutes.

“The Sheep Detectives” has critics and audiences in agreement, with ratings averaging 95%, and it is highly recommended. One critic wrote, “Funny when it needs to be, dramatic when it needs to be, and keeps you guessing about the crime at hand. Are family films supposed to be this good?”

An enthusiastic audience member said, “A sweet and clever escape of a movie. Fell in love with the sheep characters, the production design overall was charming, and the story was warm and funny.”

“The Sheep Detectives” is a must-see for everyone.

Auditions for the theater’s fall production, “The Wizard of Oz,” are on June 1 at 6 p.m. for children ages 5 – 14, June 3 at 6 p.m. for 15-year-olds through adults. June 4 will be for those who were unable to attend the other dates. Be ready to sing and read parts. Music and monologues will be supplied.

This show will be directed by Brenda Henderson and Stephanie Snyder. There will be 14 shows from November 13 to December 5. Please send your questions to wizardofdayton@gmail.com.

This year, on Saturday, June 20, during All Wheels Weekend, the theater will show a locally produced short, “Roll Modelz.” The 12.5-minute award-winning documentary shows how the lowrider car culture can bring people together, especially during times of loss. The film follows the Washington State Lowriders Car Club, based in Walla Walla, as it honors the memory of Mya Kay Avila. “Roll Modelz” will loop several times from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free. The club will have some of its cars parked in front of the theater to enjoy.

Upcoming Movies: “The Sheep Detectives” on May 29-June 2, TBD for June 5-9, and “Star Wars: Mandalorian & Grogu” on June 12-16. Schedule subject to change.