Corpse!

Adelaide’s Therry Dramatic Society is on a winner with its lively and hilarious production of Gerald Moon’s comedy thriller, Corpse!

Directed by Norman Caddick, this play murders any pretense at a realistic plot almost as quickly as it disposes of victims, but it does this with such light-hearted cheekiness the audience laps it up.

Out-of-work actor, Evelyn Farrant schemes to murder his identical twin brother, Rupert, hoping to then impersonate Rupert and secure his fortune. To achieve his desired result, Evelyn enlists the services of bumbling and decidedly dodgy Irishman, Major Ambrose Powell. Of course, nothing seems to go to plan and Evelyn is also constantly interrupted in his endeavours by his drunken and amorous elderly landlady, Mrs McGee.

A twin himself, Adam Tuominen is in his element as both brothers. As Evelyn he is camp, theatrical, and clearly almost unhinged. As Rupert he is every inch the smooth tycoon, a man who despises his shiftless brother. This is an excellent performance, enhanced by Tuominen’s sublime comic timing, especially in the hilarious murder scenes.

Peter Davies has the funniest lines in the play as the light-fingered and hapless Major Powell. He also has fine comic timing and milks the laughs for all they are worth, particularly in trying to get a dead body from the floor to a bed. His journey into comic confusion in the second act is exceptionally well played.

Sue Wylie gives an acting lesson in being a believable drunk as she portrays Mrs McGee. She is extremely funny in her flirtatious insobriety; a very good performance.

Even though his time on stage is limited, Simon Lancione does well in his role as Hawkins.

This is a wordy play and the audience on opening night took a while to warm to the laughs, but it was only because Evelyn’s scheme takes time to understand…although I’m not sure we came away completely certain of what had transpired!

The second act rollicks along, full of belly laughs and ‘business’. It is here that Norman Caddick’s strong direction, the actors’ comic timing and some subtly clever staging really shine.

Set design by Nick Spottiswoode is very good, with two very different rooms set side by side. Its cleverness, though, is in what it hides rather than what it reveals.

Denise Lovick does well in the difficult task of lighting both Evelyn’s dingy bed-sit and Rupert’s up-market apartment.

Therry’s Corpse! delivers a hilariously devious plot, comic corpses, resurrection, blini cooked on stage (there’s a recipe in the program!) and even a swashbuckling sword duel… what more could you want from a truly funny night out at the theatre?

Lesley Reed

Our earlier coverage and more details