In Tony Laumberg’s new play MURDER MOST FUNNY, children’s super pop group the colour coded GIGGLES featuring red Giggle Jade, green Giggle, Corey and blue Giggle Kevin who are preparing for their final show before the Band winds up. Corey has decided to pull the plug on the Band, saying that he has had enough of performing for children and wants to establish his own ‘serious’ solo career.
The Giggles go into a state of panic when they discover their Manager dead in their dressing room bathroom, with a large knife in his back. Before they have had time to consider what they’re going to do, their Public Relations Manager Felicity storms in, clipboard in hand, with a list of tasks to be followed up. She has also brought her good friend Chief Inspector Grimley, who has come to meet them because his niece is a big Giggles fan.
It’s a wonderful set-up and the cast have great fun, with their comic, quirky, easily recognisable characters, as they play out the scenario to its clever denouement.
Peter Talmacs plays the crusty and fumbling Chief Inspector who has however seen better days, and really was looking for a quiet night! The funniest moments in the play take place in Grimley’s interrogation scenes with the three very twitchy Giggles.
Tricia Youlden plays the Band’s nosy, over-zealous Public Relations Manager, a firm believer in the credo that there’s no such thing as bad publicity, and is always on the lookout for another story.
Seaton Kay-Smith shines as Giggle Kevin, a Gomer Pyle like character. Kevin is a 32 year old child in a man’s body who is full of wide-eyed innocence and homespun philosophy. His child-like qualities make it easy for children to identify with him, and he is the composer of most of the Giggles songs.
Nick Hunter plays disgruntled Giggle Corey. Before the group formed, Corey was trying to establish a career as a serious musician, and after 10 years of performing for children, he now wants to see if he can make his former dreams come true.
Jasmin Certoma rounds out the Giggles as effervescent Jade who loves performing for children and is also a passionate Greenie who is always trying to convert others to the cause.
Director Richard Cotter plays it all with a nice, light touch, there are even a few pop songs thrown in for good measure, and keeps the sometimes chaotic action going at a fast pace.
Light and breezy FAMILY entertainment, Tony Laumberg’s MURDER MOST FUNNY opened at the Tap Gallery, 278 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst on Friday 17th August and runs until Sunday 9th September, 2012.
(c) David Kary
24th August, 2012
An edited version of this review was published in the Australian Jewish News Sydney Volume 118 Number 47 dated Friday 2th August, 2012
Tags; Sydney Theatre Reviews- MURDER MOST FUNNY, Tony Laumberg, Tap Gallery Darlinghurst, Big Splash Productions, Richard Cotter, Tricia Youlden, Peter Talmacs, Nick Hunter, JasminCertoma, Seaton Kay-Smith.