Review – 2 Ruby Knockers, 1 Jaded Dick: A Dirk Darrow Investigation
To the untrained individual, deductive reasoning can seem like a form of magic. A vast quantity of modern crime fiction now features detectives and amateur crime-solvers with seemingly supernatural powers of observation. Combining the modern with a classic noir formula is Tim Motley as Dirk Darrow, a jaded private dick with jokes and card tricks aplenty (why not?), on the case to solve a murder and unveil the mystery of Ruby Knockers.
This show combines comedy, illusion and storytelling in an often chaotic but always enthralling fashion. And if you’re a fan of audience participation, you’re in luck as the audience plays a central role in the adventure – as junior detectives – as well as individuals being called upon for various tasks. This reviewer was randomly selected to be interrogated/mind-read during one particularly memorable part, and I’m still not sure how he managed to work out my favourite book series based off my handwriting.
But what may appear a series of random magic tricks thrown into a hardboiled crime narrative, which all makes sense by the end. Tim Motley is spellbindingly funny and a compellingly excellent storyteller. It’s almost like a reading of a Paul Auster novel, but with sex puns. One of my favourite acts I’ve seen this Fringe, this is a show not to be missed.
