User Reviews

Luella Shakespeare and Frank Hathaway's Detective Agency is facing a rough patch, a combination of precious few clients combined with new opposition.

But their travails are as nought compared to those of a local woman Jill Shiplake, who's night out with husband Stefan Shiplake takes them to a performance by the magician Laurence Pross.

In the midst of his act Laurence Pross requests the assistance of a member of the audience, and Mrs Jill Shiplake innocently agreed to lend him a helping hand.

Laurence Pross is in business with his daughter Maggie acting as his stage assistant, but they are facing stiff competition by a rival performer Anton Dukes.

The Pross's are convinced that Dukes is trying to put them out of business by sabotaging his act, and they desperately seek the assistance of Shakespeare and Hathaway to help them to clear Laurence Pross's good name.

Looking through the IMDb listing for this episode I am frankly gobsmacked by one of the actresses that is not even credited within the cast list, its Kathryn Carmichael who plays Jill Shiplake I think that is particularly bonkers as this character is pivotal to the entire episode, so how is it even conceivable that she is listed as 'Uncredited'?

I've been a fan of Shakespeare and Hathaway soon after it debuted around six years ago, and sure, it's not heavy drama like the nordic noir or the grittiness of Happy Valley or Scott and Bailey, but I guess that's the point because in a world full of insanity, what better way to get some respite by enjoying Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators right. Anyway, here the Scooby Gang investigate shenanigans at a magic performance. One must also pay tribute to the uncredited actors who appear, and without which the mosaic of the scenery would be lacking: Manoj Anand, Jamie-Lee Beacher, James T. Bowman, Kathryn Carmichael, Jill Shiplake, Hayley Ann Clarke.