Murder Most Funny by Tony Laumberg is playing at the Tap Gallery, Darlinghurst, until 9 September.
The Tap gallery is unique, while you wait to go into the theatre where else could you sit, read a second hand book from the many on the shelves (which are for sale), have a drink, admire the ginger cat and relax to the soft tunes being played live on the piano. Then go through a gallery laden corridor to the theatre itself.
Tony Laumberg introduced the show. One of the most asked questions is "why did you write it?" Tony tells us because he loves the Wiggles and he wanted to explore what would happen if innocent children's performers such as the Wiggles had to deal with something more sordid, like murder! And so the Giggles were born. Yes, this is a comedy and should be taken with a pinch of salt.
There are three Giggles played by Jasmin Certoma, Nick Hunter and Seaton Kay-Smith. The show starts with the three going to the jungle. Kevin (Seaton) the brains behind the songs but apart from that, is the nice by dim Giggle. Corey (Nick) wants to leave because he is in love with Jade (Jasmin) who has distanced herself from him. So this is their last show, they are splitting up and Corey is going on to have a solo career. About 2 hours before the final show they find their manager dead in the bathroom with a dagger in his back. Felicity (Tricia Youlden) their publicist thinks that she has just hit publicity heaven. She has already lined them up with interviews and TV appearances for after the show, now they are going to be suspects in murder, well the news could go on for a very long time. She has also arranged a special guest to meet with them back stage, this of course is with Chief Inspector Grimley (Peter Talmacs) who has recently been in the news himself for his achievements against crime! He is in his element and questions them all one by one, with a few interruptions from Felicity. It is a bit like an Agatha Christie at the end when he unravels the facts to arrest the murder.
This is a light hearted comedy, I did feel like I was watching a children's show particularly at the start, trouble was this feeling didn't really leave me. The acting was believable and the three Giggles were very over the top, energetic and enthusiastic. Felicity was my favourite character, I enjoyed the way she just couldn't stay quiet for more than a minute, I am sure we all know somebody like that. The production was very simple but it didn't need to have complicated lighting, sound or set.
Overall, Murder Most Funny is a bit of harmless fun.
