Ep 6. Mr. Monk Goes to the Theater

Mr. Monk Goes to the Theater is the sixth episode of the second season of the detective television series Monk.

The episode opens with a backstage murder taking place ahead of an opening night performance of a Tony award-winning Broadway musical, "Little Adrian." The star of the show, Sharona's friend, was the victim. The detective, Monk, is called in to solve the crime, but he quickly becomes distracted by the beauty of the theater's ornate architecture.

As the investigation proceeds, Monk observes that the murder was committed with a prop gun, which allowed the killer to sneak a live bullet onto the stage. Worse still, the killer left the murder weapon behind in the dressing room, meaning that anyone could have used it. While the police initially suspect the victim's ex-boyfriend, they are forced to consider several other possible murderers including the show's director, the head of the crew and a temperamental cast member.

Throughout the episode, Monk's obsessive-compulsive tendencies make his investigation methods unconventional and often humorous. For instance, he insists on personally wiping every seat in the theater with sanitizing sheets before moving to the next row to examine them for evidence. At one point, he notices a single strand of hair on the floor, which he places under a magnifying glass. Despite the apparent uselessness of this action, it leads him to a vital clue.

Mr. Monk still finds time for his interest in acting and tells Sharona he could have played leading actors if he wanted to. However, he enjoys the role of being a detective more than acting. He gets a chance to showcase his talent in an improv session with the cast where he impresses the director and cast with his ability to improvise on cues given to him when the play is in the middle of production, and they need to stall on stage when the leading actor is missing right before his scheduled appearance.

All throughout the episode, Monk is plagued by the same visions of the murderer he faced in a previous case, and he finds it difficult to focus on this present investigation. At one point, the killer makes an attempt on Monk's life, underscoring the danger of the case. Monk later takes to the stage and tries to re-enact the scene of the crime, resulting in unintended mishaps and a hilariously embarrassing performance that has Sharona cringing with second-hand embarrassment.

In the end, Monk finds the trail of the real killer, who attempted to commit murder on stage in front of a live audience of 300 people. Sharona and the police officers also arrest the killer and solve the murder mystery.

Overall, Mr. Monk Goes to the Theater is an intriguing and entertaining episode with several laugh-out-loud moments, a thrilling mystery, and heartwarming moments between the main characters. Monk's peculiarities add an extra layer of interest to the story. In general, it is an excellent watch for detective and comedy fans alike.