A Shoddy Detective and the art of deception

Some Fringe shows make do with a chair, a table, and a lot of imagination. A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception laughs at that idea and rolls out one of the most ambitious sets I’ve seen at the festival. Scaled back from its touring version, sure — but even so, it’s still a lavish, detailed design that feels like it belongs on a much bigger stage.

That sense of polish carries through the whole production. The direction is tight and confident, keeping the farce sharp and the comedy crystal clear. Lighting and sound were equally seamless, hitting every cue without drawing attention to themselves — which, of course, is exactly what you want in a show built on timing.

Where things get a little shakier is in the script’s adaptation. Condensing a two-hour play into a one-hour Fringe slot is no easy task, and while the show preserves the slapstick chaos and comic momentum, it inevitably loses some depth. The characters pop in and out so quickly that we never really get to know them, which means the ending doesn’t land with the punch it probably does in the full version. I haven’t seen the complete play, but judging by the trailer and what’s here, I’d wager it allows for more breathing room — and a finale that feels more satisfying.

Still, this is nitpicking in a show that delivers exactly what it promises: an hour of smart silliness, slickly staged and endlessly entertaining. If you’re looking for something fast, funny, and joyfully over the top, this shoddy detective is anything but.