ComedyReviewSouth East

BRIGHTON FRINGE: Moribund – And the Meaning of Death, Spiegeltent: Bosco

Written by: Rosie Kohl and George Collie
Reviewer: Simon Topping

A young Eleanor Hush (Rosie Kohl), stands before us, pale-faced and swathed in black lace. She finds herself at her own funeral, with no memory of how she got there. Presiding over the service is Driscoll Bleak (George Collie), funeral director and laconic guide to the post-mortem world. Will she accept her fate and move into the light?

Moribund is a wonderfully crafted show, part of the eclectic events put on by Brighton Death Forum in order to promote dialogue about our evolving relationship with death and dying.

Moribund delights in taking us through the nine stages of death with innovative songs and well-crafted movement pieces. The rigor mortis song is funny throughout. “Stiffen up and settle down!” shouts Bleak, to much chortling in the house.

As the demented funeral director, Collie has the vibrancy of Tim Curry in Rocky Horror Picture Show combined with the comic delivery of Alastair Sim, if he were to perform in a Tim Burton film. The way Collie pronounces phenomenon, with an extra syllable, as if he just can’t quite stop in time, is silliness at its best. Kohl is a fabulous vaudevillian clown and a good musician. Her attempt to do self-CPR, in order to try and restore her life, has the audience crying with laughter.

This is an intelligent, well researched and enchanting show staged by two confident, funny and warm performers.

Reviewed on 9 May 2017 | Image: Contributed

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