Mr Fowler (Tobias Ross Reymond Jorgensen) has noticed a drop in the funeral business and needs bodies to keep the business afloat. In How to Urn a Living the audience watches as his employess Lilleth (Fiona Lotara) and Wisteria (Zofia Zerphy) are on hand to help their boss get back on track and keep themselves in a job.

There’s a range of characters performed by Yolande Matji who visit the shop regularly from the well-to-do lady demanding to buy a gold Urn, money is no object apparently to the ex-husband wanting to buy a derogatory engraved gravestone for his ex-wife (who happens to be alive) which adds to the flow of the production as the shop has a passing trade of customers to keep the energy within the play “alive” and excites Wisteria no end.

Writer and Wisteria actor Zofia Zerphy blends gallow humour and an over-excited glee to her role. Wisteria loves having a new body in her mortuary to embalm and prepare them for their onward journey. However, as the play progresses she begins to like her job a little bit too much.

The cast of four works closely together and maintains high energy levels throughout the play using the entire stage area. Take a few minutes before the play starts to read the headstones and props on stage too.

Funeral homes aren’t necessarily the first place you would expect to find a comedy based in. Although I think when you are dealing with death on a daily basis a sharp sense of humour would certainly help.

For more information on How to Urn a Living and other productions performing at The Hen and Chickens during the Camden Fringe please use the link below.

Four Stars.

http://www.henandchickens.com/

The play will be performed at The Old Red Lion for GrimFest, from 7th – 10th October 2024.

https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/Grimfest.html