Spooky And Comic Don't Really Mix.

Having missed it during The Fringe, I decided to treat myself to an early Halloween present.

Billed as a Gothic farce, The Curse of Elizabeth Faulkner recounts the tale of James Faulkner, an Edwardian gentleman who seeks out an undertaker to help him exhume the corpse of his great-grandmother in an attempt to rid them both of a curse that has plagued their families for generations. They meet on the eve of their respective birthdays and there is a strong sense of a foreboding as both are on the cusp of turning 33, the ominous age at which all of their ancestors were killed by the dreaded curse.

 As the bumbling undertaker Reginald Thorndike (Neil Henry) and his affluent companion James (Josh Haberfield) embark on their quest to find Elizabeth Faulkner’s grave, they are closely followed by a hooded figure attempting to thwart their plan. However, this mysterious cloaked presence is far from scary (he creeps along in a manner that wouldn’t look out of place in a episode of Scooby Doo). Any hopes I had of being scared out of my wits were soon dashed, as the slapstick nature of this comedic farce overpowers any horror filled moments. 

This strong cast of four work well together and attack their roles with great gusto; their skilled characterisation coupled with self-referential jokes makes for a very humorous play. I think my comedic highlight is a scene on a train that is rich in physical comedy and displays the cast’s clear ability. Following its success at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe , The Curse of Elizabeth Faulkner is the latest in a long line of London transfers. However, in many ways this play still feels like a Fringe production, as the set is minimal and it is only an hour long. Although the short duration lends itself well to the witty, fast-paced dialogue, structurally the whole piece feels a little rushed. 

All in all, this play is more likely to make you chuckle than scream – so if you were expecting it to get you in the mood for Hallowe’en, you’ll be disappointed. However, if you’re in the mood to see a farce that is silly, funny and has an ongoing joke about about a goose, then The Curse of Elizabeth Faulkner might just be the ticket.