Written by our very own award-winning Owen McCafferty (Quietly, Titanic -Scenes from The British Wreck Commissioner’s Inquiry 1912) and directed by Soho Theatre’s artistic director Steve Marmion, this co-production between Belfast’s Lyric Theatre, London’s Soho Theatre and Dublin’s Abbey Theatre was always going to be very exciting for everyone involved.
With its world premiere at the Lyric Theatre, Death of a Comedian will run from 11th February until the 8th March, before moving on to a stint at the Abbey Theatre from 10th March until 4th April, and finally the Soho Theatre from 14th April until the 17th May.
‘What if I’m not funny? What if I go out there and I’m not funny?’
The stage is simply, yet innovatively set with a series of rectangular hangings placed one after the other, decorated in various ways and which slide away to represent the different locations in the play. As the audience file in, muttering and talking can be heard over the sound system, it’s subtle and confusing, that is until the lights go down and a grumpy looking man (Brian Doherty) walks into the spotlight.
It quickly becomes apparent that we are back stage — the noise, the dingy looking tiled wall behind him, he stops for a second and then all of a sudden jiggles his jowls, making the noise of a bubbling pot of soup. The tension is broken, the audience laugh — not quite sure if they should be laughing when nothing’s really happened yet, but that’s the nature of comedy isn’t it?
Telling the story of Steve Johnston (Brian Doherty) — an up and coming stand-up comedian, we are confronted head on with the wicked world of success. He goes from doing what he loves on stage in filthy dive bars, to the big leagues when he meets an agent to the stars (Shaun Dingwall) who is intent on making him famous, whatever the cost. Unfortunately, Johnston’s long-suffering girlfriend (Katie McGuinness) isn’t on board with all that’s going on, and can’t bear to see her boyfriend be forced to distance himself from his true thoughts, feelings and comedic style.
From his rambling first-gig nerves, to the bravado of walking out on stage with pyrotechnics and a generic pop soundtrack (à la Live at the Apollo), Doherty plays it perfectly. His original style is sort of an angry Chris O’Dowd (it might just be the Irish accent), with the potty mouth of Frankie Boyle thrown in for good measure; it’s political, edgy, abstract and potentially offensive. After the smarmy, fast-paced “devil with a smile” agent gets his hands on him, he can be heard censoring himself, dumbing down his observations and making scenarios up just for a cheap laugh. It’s all quite depressing really. A true comment on the mainstream, easy laughs route of comedy today.
As far as acting goes, the standard is high, however, Shaun Dingwall is undoubtedly the true stand-out star of the show; his performance as Johnston’s agent is absolutely spot on. His sharp suits, erratic nature and boisterous attitude bring a suitable level of excitement and pizazz to this darkly funny story, and you’re never quite sure if you love him or hate him, despite his sleazy persona.
With only three characters, and the majority of the show being a series of stand-up comedy gigs, this is definitely a play with a difference. As a playwright McCafferty makes the transition from story teller to comedian well, inserting many nuances into Johnston’s set that you would expect from a real person, telling real jokes. With just the right balance between dark humour, social commentary and great acting, Death of a Comedian is a theatrical triumph with a difference.
