one4review | On 11, Aug 2025

Few genres seem as evergreen for parody as film noir detectives. Something about the hyper masculine, hard boiled characters and constant internal monologue is just so ripe for mockery, few can resist. They’re as much a fringe pet topic as dead parents or the inevitable decline of society, just with more fedoras and trench coats.

Christian Dart’s walk along these well-worn rain-slick paths is a particular delight. Dart plays Gumshoe, your standard noir private dick, complete with the obligatory problems with drinking, women and being constantly under assault from goons. Through a series of unpredictable and hilarious plot points, Gumshoe must solve his latest case, which might just be the end of him.

Anyone who’s seen Dart’s work with Fringe favourites Bad Clowns will be familiar with the particular mix of silliness, audience interaction, chaos and whimsy. There’s a sense of anarchy in the production that’s lacking in many other shows with similar styles, a real feeling that the entire thing might just come off the rails at any moment. With his near-manic energy and sweeping movements, Dart at points seemed to almost purposefully be flinging props hither and thither, only to need to hastily retrieve them later.

Describing the show as containing “audience” interaction, doesn’t really do it justice – it’s more audience collaboration or maybe audience complicity. Dart starts the show by asking the audience to play along like they are witnessing a panto, gasping at moments of surprise, cheering at triumphs and generally getting as involved as possible. This is on top of the usual shenanigans, getting audience members up on stage, equipping them with props, forcing them to improvise parts of the show, dance, etc. The result is that the final show feels more like a joint effort and is all the more fun for it. A particular stand out moment is when Dart encourages audience members to soak him with fully loaded water pistols as he proceeds through the “rain” in one scene. It’s a risky amount of reliance on the crowd, and I can see that it might not always pay off, but fortunately for my showing, it went with the exact amount of confusion and confidence from those chosen and had the audience guffawing.

As might be expected, the show lacks a little tightness, but it’s got so much heart, that’s almost not a fault, more part of its charm. Perhaps not for everyone, but definitely for me.

****
Reviewed by Tom
Gilded Balloon – Appleton Tower
15.40 (1hr)
Until 24 Aug (not 12)