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Set in a dark and disturbing morgue in the heart of London, this darkly humorous production is centred on a group of people living in ‘vengeful times’. Using interspersing violent and humorous scenes, student writer Dominic Allen creates a distinct tone of paranoia and a sense of foreboding that will keep the audience intrigued, disturbed and ultimately amused.
From the start it is clear that this is not going to be the most ordinary of plays. The air is smoky, the lights are dim and the central object is a cadaver named Mr. Goodbody. As the story unfolds, it appears that this body is central not only to the setting but also to the story-line. As Dr. Erasmus Hart (Matt Springett) and Eugene Flint (Jethro Compton) go about their duties as coroner and assistant, they reveal a web of lies, conspiracies and tensions that underlie this most unusual of scripts.
This central pair make an interesting duo as an eccentric boss with cringe-worthy David Brent-esque tendencies and a dissatisfied assistant hoping to make his way out of the morgue via whichever means possible. Springett’s animated performance alongside Compton’s more natural delivery brings dramatic tension to the script as each respective character develops through interaction with the other. However, at times of high emotion this pairing is not as successful as it could be. The contrastive styles seem not to lend themselves to more of a developed relationship that may have been beneficial to the script.
The theme of psychopaths in positions of power continues throughout the play and produces the best character in the production. Morgan, a sadistic and depraved Civil Servant (Jamie Wilkes) provides the production with some laugh-out-loud hilarious moments as this menacingly aggressive government investigator cracks appalling jokes that emphasise the play's self-mocking nature. Along with his wife Lambert (Lucy Farrett), Morgan adds a depraved sexual element that completes the twisted and immoral picture that Allen paints of life in this London morgue.
Although this play could certainly be described as ridiculous, Allen manages to maintain a developed storyline that should override any reservations regarding the more obscure sections such as the intermittent dance sequences. The most notably insane and inexplicable 'Happy Minutes' certainly enhance the farcical nature of the production although at times this feels as though it may be a pub-joke taken a little too far. Whatever your opinion regarding the motives of these sections, it would be hard not to laugh as these Drama Soc actors get into full swing in this dirty, smoky morgue.
The puerile humour and absurd nature of this play will not be for everyone. However if you enjoy dark comedy, a well written script and you want to see the award winning Belt-Up crew in an enjoyably high-energy and farcical production, it would certainly be a 'grave' mistake to miss out on this one.
Morbid Curiosity is showing week 3 Thursday to Sunday in the Drama Barn. Doors open at 7.30 and tickets are available on the door. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.
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