A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception
Lion and Unicorn Theatre
Reviewed – 15th August 2019
★★
“chaotic and slapstick, occasionally clever, but the humour is dated, and the plot twists and red herrings a touch predictable”
Established in 2006, The Camden Fringe was set-up as an alternative to Edinburgh Festival, offering performers, with perhaps less time and financial commitments, the chance to try out new material and different ideas in a supportive setting. Like Edinburgh, the festival encompasses new writing, opera, musicals, stand-up, sketch comedy, dance, cabaret, poetry, opera and improvisation; and the shows take place throughout the day and generally last one hour. It aims to give ‘anyone’ the chance to perform and showcase their talents, from very experienced performers and companies, to ambitious newcomers.
The company behind “A Shoddy Detective & the Art of Deception” running at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre fall into that latter category of ‘ambitious newcomers’. “Shoddy Theatre” is a new kid on the block, created by half a dozen East 15 Acting School graduates, and this is their first professional outing. You need to be a far from shoddy detective to find out more. No programmes or cast list exist and an extensive google merely informs that this show is written and directed by the ‘Company’.
The detective in this story is haplessly on the trail of a supposedly stolen painting from a manor auction. Everybody is considered to be a suspect, but there are few clues scattered around the estate, and even fewer in the mind of the sleuth. Enlisting the help of an old enemy who he put behind bars for multiple international heists triggers a Clouseau-esque romp through the land of P. G. Wodehouse.
The energy is infectious as the six actors roll out fifteen characters over the sixty minutes. It is chaotic and slapstick, occasionally clever, but the humour is dated, and the plot twists and red herrings a touch predictable. The audience is too often way ahead of the characters: characters whose race to catch up is hampered by an obstacle course of tried and tested jokes. It is possible to see where this production is going, but it does need fresher material and a much sharper edge to cut through the mass of entertainment that comprises the Camden Fringe.
For a debut, though, there is great promise. Even the shoddiest detective can spot the potential drive of this hitherto anonymous company. Once they devise a script that matches their ambition, I’m sure they’ll find their eureka moment.
Reviewed by Jonathan Evans
Photography courtesy Shoddy Theatre
A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception
Lion and Unicorn Theatre until 18th August as part of Camden Fringe 2019
Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:
Hummingbird | ★★★ | August 2018
In the Wake of | ★★★ | August 2018
The German Girls | ★★★ | August 2018
The Cut | ★★ | November 2018
BackPAGE | ★★½ | February 2019
Like You Hate Me | ★★★ | April 2019
Mama G’s Story Time Roadshow | ★★★★★ | May 2019
River In The Sky | ★★½ | May 2019
Euan | ★★★★ | July 2019
The Death Of Ivan Ilyich | ★★ | August 2019
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