A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception at Lichfield Garrick Review
Written by Charis for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception is a classic slapstick whodunnit featuring four actors, a variety of characters and a lot of chaos. It features a wide range of classic British humour and the influence from pieces that came before it can be felt. While it’s suggested as appropriate for age 8+ the humour mostly lends itself to an adult audience.
When a priceless painting goes missing at a private auction, Detective Stuart Pidcock, whose incompetence is a running theme, is called upon to uncover the mystery. However, when he cannot solve it himself, he is forced to work alongside an old nemesis, Dusty Wills. Together, the pair must interrogate the variety of colourful suspects, in order to catch the culprit and solve the crime.
The four actors - Neil Jennings, Wesley Griffith, Mitch Donaldson and Becky Bartram - work together well as a cast and were able to hold the audience despite their small number. Bartram and Donaldson did well with the wide variety of accents and wacky characters as the staff, lord and lady and guests at Raeburn Manor. Jennings and Griffith also did well as investigators Pidcock and Wills The chaotic piece certainly had some charm and the audience was laughing at almost every turn. However, the repetition of some of the slapstick moments became a bit predictable which unfortunately dampened the piece at times. The twist at the end was to be expected but it is possible that it was entirely the aim, due to the play being a ‘shoddy’ recreation of detective mysteries.
A routine with the father and son characters went down particularly well with the audience who were laughing at every aspect of the pair. Scenes with Nora were also particularly notable and some of the best within the play.
A Shoddy Detective had everything you would expect from a detective piece, just delivered in a slapstick comedy way. As well as appearing on stage, Donaldson and Bartram wrote the play and it is clear that they have done their research and their appreciation for the genre comes through.
Designer Louie Whitemore’s manor house drawing room really sets the tone well. As it is the only room the audience will see, it is important that it is engaging and believable and Whitemore got it absolutely spot on. The radio was utilised in a number of ways and every time it was hilarious.
Overall, despite quite a large amount of repetition, if you want to see an classic British humour slapstick comedy go and watch A Shoddy Detective and The Art of Deception on its tour.
For more information and tour dates visit the Shoddy Theatre company website here.
★★★.5