A Shoddy Detective

and The Art of Deception

Lichfield Garrick

****

Shoddy Theatre’s latest comedy outing combines a delightfully chaotic mix of slapstick mayhem, dodgy gags and eclectic characterisations. Take a pinch of Python, a dash of Fawlty Towers and a big helping of good, old fashioned farce and you are somewhere near describing this fast paced feast of fun.

This time around, the action surrounds an Agatha Christie type plot involving a stolen painting and a predictably shambolic detective trying to solve the crime (played with suitable bewilderment by Neil Jennings) Cue a succession of unhinged suspects and visitors played with seamless flow and energy by the two, multi playing actors, Mitch Donaldson and Becky Bartram.

Enter a deeply disturbing Yorkshire chef, a posh Lord and lady, an old and mixed up gardener and his even older and more mixed up father, a sweet West County maid with a tendency to get mistakenly whacked, a Russian femme fatale and ‘man and wife’ - played by one person (The old Tommy Cooper technique)

Pace, as with all good farces, is frenetic but not rushed. The physical stuff – bashing trays on heads, being hit by doors, getting thrown out of windows - is meticulously choreographed and clearly drawn whilst gags are given space and time to be appreciated amongst the rough and tumble commotion. It looks easy … but it’s not and there lies the skill within what is a very precise form of theatre.

There is, of course, nothing new in all of this. The ‘things going wrong onstage’ genre is a popular one. From Noises Off to The Play That Goes Wrong series, it’s a crowd pleaser when done well. Shoddy Theatre plays perfectly into the appetite, bringing new twists and storylines around the central familiar chaotic premise. It a clever approach. Audiences know just what to expect from a tried and tested formula and will return for more. That, at least, is the theory!

At times, the physical shenanigans outweigh the writing. It’s occasionally somewhat of an assault on the senses when perhaps a little more exposition and dialogue would give some respite and breathing space between the big set pieces.

On a simple but impressive set, the cast of four work tirelessly and entirely succeed in creating a believable, funny and clearly defined cast of characters. Energy, pace and range combine to create a beautifully constructed piece of theatre. Throw in some effective musical scoring, some hammer horror sound effects and some exquisite comedy timing and you have a winner.

Unashamedly mad, gloriously daft and far from shoddy. Catch it while you can!

Tom Roberts

27-05-25 

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