REVIEW: DC Richard Head by Luke Rose at Canal Café 25 June – 7 July 2024

‘Silliness, shenanigans and the big reveal’ ★★★★

DC Richard Head (Dick Head, get it?) is leaving the police force after 20 years of service. At his leaving do, he confesses that he is haunted by the one case he has failed to solve: the murder of his friends and colleagues Jo Blogs, her husband John and best friend Joanna. He enlists the help of the audience to solve the crime. So, who dunnit? Captain Hard? Private Investigator Abel Cain? Or Officer Frank Lee Bleak?

The plot of this one-man show was thinner than air, but the plot was not the point. It was merely a vehicle to allow writer and performer Luke Rose to string together a series of skits to show off his physical comedy, improvisation and stand-up skills.

By and large, it worked, with oodles of audience participation, Rose’s over the top energy swept up the audience and sustained the piece through the (lack of) twists and turns before the big “who dunnit” reveal at the end.

Silly and absurd but a good giggle.

DC Richard Head written and performed by Luke Rose

Canal Cafe, 25 June – 7 July 2024

Box Office: https://canalcafetheatre.com/our-shows/dc/

Director: Holly-Anne White

Company: Broken Gods

Reviewer: Srabani Sen

Srabani is a theatre actress and playwright. As an actress she has performed at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (The Globe), the Arcola, Southwark Playhouse, The Pleasance and numerous fringe theatres, in a range of roles from Shakespeare to plays by new and emerging writers. She has written several short and full length plays. Her play Tawaif was longlisted for the ETPEP Finborough award, and her play Vijaya was shortlisted for the Sultan Padamsee Playwrights Award in Mumbai.