Drop Dead!

The latest offering from Fair Share Theatre Company is Drop Dead! a chaotic murder-mystery farce by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, featuring a group of washed-up, eccentric actors trying to revive their careers. As the cast falls victim to real-life murders, they must continue the show, resulting in a self-referential comedy of errors.

A good-looking set of a lounge with settee, wall phone, fire-place plus open window and two entrances (two chairs and a clock are cleverly painted as part of the backing set) dress the stage and we soon meet the splendidly ‘over the top’ well-dressed actors of a play within the play . Act 1 consists of their dress rehearsal and soon it is revealed that one of the cast, had just died. Act 2 portrays the opening night when further disasters befall the cast with great hilarity.

Rehearsals are led by Victor Le Pewe, well played by Neil Waghorn, often exasperated by the actors, yet the reason for much of the chaos. First to appear is Drools, the butler, played with presence by Ben Becket-Wilde, randomly flicking his duster around the room, who took on a French persona for the play’s opening night, complete with beret and a string of onions!

Next to arrive in the play is Alexander (James Dean) and his 13th wife Penelope (Charlotte Hutchinson). They too have great exaggerated style – Alex frequently bursts into soliloquies about snow, and false snow suddenly appearing at the window, courtesy of the efficient props assistant Philippa, well played by Dani Davis. Alex also has a problem pronouncing Penelope, and various versions are very funny.

Another character Bette, is gloriously played by Miriam Knight, arrogant, virtually stuck to her long cigarette holder, and played with great style. Inspector Mounds a Scotland Yard detective, there to investigate the murder of Lord Barrington, played by Graeme Sinclair, works well , but ends up being knifed!  There were numerous funny moments when Lady Barrington, played by Lisa Jones, who was deaf, couldn’t remember her lines or where she should be on set, is fixed up with radio contact, but can’t distinguish between stage instructions and lines. She has to go, and is replaced by the bearded Le Pewe.

Nathan Beckett-Wilde as PG ‘Piggy’ Banks contributed well to the slapstick and murder-mystery elements of the play – and even during one hiatus told the others not to be all “regional / NODA” – cheeky but funny! The author of the play Alabama Miller played well by Josie Marston arrives and is not happy with the cast’s portrayal of the play and even on opening night reappears as a ghost in an attempt to correct their interpretation.

Taking a ‘fair Share’ of the directional aspects were 5 of the cast, with Alex Stallard acting as Continuity Director. I will not spoil all the secrets of the plot, suffice to say three of the characters ended up deceased sitting on the settee, but each were still able to take their bows, with an assisted nod of the head! The audience reacted well to all the confusion and humour and I enjoyed it too.

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