How to Urn a Living at the FUSE Festival
The Rose Theatre
Theatre
UNTIL Saturday 6th July
A merry story of murders and morality. Berserk Theatre's inventive new play spooks and delights with physical comedy and witty dialogue. This farcical comedy set in a funeral home subverts expectations of grief and death, questioning how class, religion, responsibility, traditions, and more impacts our relationship to death and begs the question, "is it ok to capitalize on death?"
For generations, Fowler's Funerals has undertaken the responsibility of lifting the spirits of grieving people. But lately business has been dying down, forcing Mr. Fowler, his shop girl Lilith, and his mortician Wisteria to think outside the (pine) box or risk going under. Fowler suggests new business cards, Lilith new flowers, and Wisteria… something more sinister. Unilaterally deciding her decision is best, Wisteria enacts her plan and makes Lilith an unwilling accomplice. As they scramble to keep their business alive and satisfy their customers' bizarre requests, the lengths they will go to protect their (funeral) home are tested.
Rich in antics and wacky characters, this East 15 ensemble of international actors thrills and tickles in this comedy of quick wit and outrageous moral quandaries.
The director comments, How to Urn a Living finds light and laughter in the morbid. Clever without taking itself too seriously, it had me laughing non stop. A delightful night at the theatre.
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