A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception – HOME Mcr

Creative team Mitch Donaldson and Becky Bartram have produced a laugh-out-loud slapstick whodunnit featuring four primary actors, a dozen characters and a whole load of chaos that turns everything on its head so make sure you pay attention.

When a priceless painting goes missing at a private auction, Detective Stuart Pidcock (Neil Jennings) is called upon to uncover the mystery. However, when he cannot solve it himself he is forced to enlist the help of an old nemesis, Dusty Wills (Wesley Griffith). Together, the pair must interrogate the many characterful suspects (Donaldson and Bartram in multiple roles plus a delightful cameo from understudy Alexandra Ricou which drew the laughs) that reside at the manor, in order to catch the conniving culprit and solve the crime of the century.

Louie Whitemore’s staging is exquisite set in the singular location of a reception room of a manor house complete with wood panelling, period furniture, light fittings, and of course a gramophone.

There was good use of lighting (Adam Jefferys) and sound effects (Sam Baxter) to capture a particular event or the appearance of a character with the acting crisp and seamless around the numerous slapstick sequences.

Whitemore’s array of period costumes befitting the lord and lady of the manor down to their lowly maid and gardeners were equally impressive, more so in that they facilitated the seamless character changes necessary to move the action forward which also included a femme fatale, a bloodied cook, and an inseparable insurance broker and his wife.

The story flows well and even if some of the humour is a little obvious and perhaps overly repeated, the company were happy to push the boundaries with inuendoes, and an eclectic audience were clearly enjoying it: you certainly know you’ve nailed it when you get a sharp intake of breath from the stalls with the plot reveal at the end.

My only reservation is the pacing which is very much determined by the continual character costume changes by Donaldson and Bartram which often left Jennings and Griffiths somewhat static at times waiting for something to happen, which is clearly a legacy of the writing team having focused more on the support roles which they in fact perform. I know Jennings from his many years with The Pantaloons, and he is a very capable performer so perhaps consider giving him and Griffith a little more material to work with?

That said, all the cast performed strongly throughout, maintaining accents and character, in what was an enjoyable romp through a timeless whodunnit with a talented cast.

Back in 2018, a small group of graduating East 15 Acting School students were partnered together for their final assessment project which was to devise and create a play entirely on their own, and following some initial success, Shoddy Theatre was formed.

A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception is touring the UK, further details of this and upcoming productions at https://www.shoddytheatre.co.uk/

The show is dedicated in loving memory of Paul Donaldson.

Reviewer: Mark Davoren

Reviewed: 30^th May 2025

North West End UK Rating: