monkey show
Literal meaning: a performance featuring trained monkeys. This sense is the basis for the idiomatic use.
In the old days, monkey shows were popular at festivals.
bad acting; overacting; unconvincing performance; farce; clumsy subterfuge
Idiomatic use: describes poor, exaggerated, or transparent acting, or any clumsy attempt at deception. Often used critically.
His acting is just like a monkey show—terrible and overdone.
There's no way I'd be fooled by such clumsy subterfuge.