Drama group playing it for laughs with showbiz satire
Crieff Drama Group will be taking its audiences into an imaginary world of TV celebrities when it opens for a three night run next week.
Their current play writer, Eric Chappell, sets up the notion that while the spotlight shines brightly on television performers, a very different group inhabits the shadows off-stage.
He has capitalised on the theme in his irreverent contemporary comedy Wife After Death.
This two-act play was toured in 2010 with a cast headed by Tom Conti - now it’s Crieff Drama Group’s turn.
Chappell is a master craftsman in character and plot- building and in this hilarious piece he transforms the demise of his fictitious TV comedian Dave Thursby into a brilliant situation comedy.
Helen Day, who chairs Crieff Drama Group committee, told the Herald: “The story is all about showbusiness egos and insecurities.
“We’re thrown into a motley gathering of showbusiness characters constantly attempting to upstage each other with all the wit and cynicism you’d expect.
“Yet all the while, the late Mr Thursby still seems more than capable of disrupting their best laid plans.”
Helen added: “We’re having a lot of fun with Chappell’s script.
“The intriguing thing about Chappell’s writing is that it swerves the obvious pitfalls of situation comedy cliches.
“There is always truth in his characters and with that comes more depth in the way they can be presented. It gives actors – and audiences – that much more to discover.”
Crieff Drama’s Wife After Death runs from April 6-8 at 7.30pm in Morrison’s Academy Hall.
Doors and wine bar are open at 7pm.
There is still time to buy tickets, costing £ 6, from Carnelian Crafts in Comrie Street, Crieff, or 01764 656375.
Last-minute tickets may be available at the door.
See www.crieffdramagroup.co.uk for more information.