Private detectives form the most memorable characters in popular culture. Bogart in the Maltese Falcon, Nicholson in Chinatown, Joaquin Phoenix in Inherent Vice and now Dirk Darrow in… Fringe?

Tim Motley plays his own creation, Dirk Darrow, a hardboiled, jaded private dick on the case of a bank robbery gone awry. Murder, intrigue and danger lie around every corner as Dirk takes you, a junior detective from the Pinkerton Agency, with him through all the noir hangouts, from seedy hotel rooms to seedy bars and the mean streets in between. There is a supporting cast of shady henchmen, tough dames, snitches and double agents that Dirk seamlessly picks out of the audience and incorporates into the cast.

Audience participation is a central element of the show. Dirk is a quick-witted private dick who knows how to crack a case. Dirk deploys from his bag of witty dick tricks, mentalism, magic and witty repartee. It is a joy to watch his unconventional methods unfold. At points there is so much action on stage it can be a little difficult to follow the plot, but tell me a film noir where anyone knew the plot anyway? Just like the best noirs, ‘2 Ruby Knockers,’ is pure atmosphere, with a lot of laughs on the side.

This show is a hit. I loved the imaginative parody of the crime noir genre, but it is equally accessible for all – no film history initiation required. Tim Motley inhibits Dirk perfectly. When he hits his stride, the jokes roll off his tongue like a true master of the forgotten art of the one-liner. Don’t miss Dirk Darrow at this year’s Fringe, it could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.