Sisters, Harriet and Regina Burke played by Laurel Marks and Gabrielle Nellis-Pain are funeral directors whose business isn’t blooming quite as it should be and need a few more funerals to hold off bankruptcy.

Regina is in the process of getting a license for her new project “Jolly Gina’s Gin Bar and Spa” an unusual business combination but one she has already spent way too much on and Harriet is furious as she checks the accounts.

Then add to the mix Malcolm (Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson) who Regina has hired unbeknown to Harriet. He appears to be clueless and doesn’t have a clue what funeral directors do. However, his humour reminded me of Private Pike (Ian Lavender) from the 1960s and beyond comedy series Dad’s Army. The mannerisms and comedy delivery had many similarities.

However, with two funerals booked in at once can the team pull it off with only one ordained clergy and an imposter trying to act like one? It’s funny and entertaining trying to keep up with the proceedings. One funeral could help boost the new business and the other finish them!

The fourth member of the cast Molly-Rose Taylor deserves a special mention. Playing the rest of the characters in Grave Mistake. Of which there are at least five and all completely different, especially the quick changes between the two funeral clients whose services the sisters are trying to hold at once.

The casting is excellent and the four have a great onstage rapport pulling together the comedy with perfect timing and getting plenty of laughs from the audience.

Writers Toby Hampton and Matthew Ballantyne add a touch of madcap entertainment to the funeral business. Yes, the coffin they used on stage is genuine and was donated to the team by the local undertakers.

Although Grave Mistake has now finished I have no doubt it will return to the stage in the future. For more information please use the link below.

Four Stars.

https://www.thehopetheatre.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thehopetheatre/?hl=en

CAST

Regina Burke

GABRIELLE NELLIS-PAIN

Malcolm

GABRIEL FOGARTY-GRAVESON

Harriet Burke

LAUREL MARKS

All other Parts

MOLLY-ROSE TAYLOR.

………………..

Matthew Ballantyne & Toby Hampton reunite to write this fast-paced & witty new comedy after their 5-star, award-nominated run of ‘21 Round For Christmas’ at Park Theatre in 2023.

Produced by the award-winning in-house team at The Hope Theatre, Grave Mistake is sure to be a hilarious, chaotic treat!



Running time: Approximately 2 hours including a 15 minute interval