Death in Bowengabbie

I had a good feeling about this one the moment we arrived at the Old Fitz. Or maybe it was later, after we’d collected our tickets, along with our opening night party hats and lolly bags – all that sugar going to my head. Independent theatre producers: take note.

Or it could have been that newspaper clipping on the wall near the restrooms, detailing how Death in Bowengabbie’s writer/director, Caleb Lewis, had been awarded the Company B Belvoir’s 2009 Philip Parsons Young Playwright’s Award – this, after he’d withdrawn it from contention. When a play is winning awards for which it isn’t even being considered, well, that’s quite an endorsement. In any case, it gave me something to chew over (or was that a milk bottle?) while we waited in line.

‘Welcome to the sweet life,’ indeed. So reads the sign on the road as Oscar Bowen returns to his home town of Bowengabbie, drawn back after 15 long years for the funeral of his Aunt Jeannie. Soon he’ll discover that, when a country town ages, when all its young people leave, Meals on Wheels becomes a boom industry and funerals major social events.

Jeannie’s has a fairground theme, and when Uncle Harry passes away a month later, Oscar is back again for his burial ‘at sea’. Before too long, it seems as if there is a death in Bowengabbie every other week, and Oscar begins to suspect a plot. Could someone be murdering its elderly residents just to keep bringing him back?

Lewis deserves his writing award, as Death in Bowengabbie is a deliciously dark comedy, a black jelly bean of morbid delights. And a sherbert-filled trophy should also be handed to the actor who brings this current production to life: Andrew Brackman is brilliant in his various roles as narrator, Oscar, and every other character in the play.

My personal favourite is his portrayal of Pop: head thrown back, arms outstretched, channelling late-model Burgess Meredith for all he’s worth. It’s sublime stuff, ably supported by Verity Hampson’s striking lighting and set design.

And those complimentary lollies? Oh, snakes, gummy bears, strawberries and cream – a mixed bag, to be sure. Death in Bowengabbie, on the other hand, is a pleasure from beginning to end. Pop into the nearby 7-Eleven on Williams Street (tell them I sent you – their confused expression will be worth it), pick up a bag of your favourite sweets and run, don’t walk, to the Old Fitz tonight. This is one show not to be missed.

Death in Bowengabbie

Season: 11 to 26 March