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Greenside @ Nicolson Square – Fern Studio
Godfather Death covers a morbid and uncomfortable topic that we often ignore: our mortality. Drawing inspiration from an obscure Grimm's fairy tale, the show is filled with comedic moments and superb songs.Summary
Rating
Unmissable!
A mother, who has just given birth to her thirteenth child, considers offers from God and the Devil to be her baby’s godparent. We learn of this in the song “The Proposal” which includes one of my favourite lines from God: “It’s Godfather – it’s literally right there in the name.” Instead, the mother selects Death who promises to look after the child and gives him a bag of magical, healing herbs. Death warns his godson never to attempt to rescue the life of someone he’s chosen to take, as there would be serious repercussions if he were to defy him.
Andrew Lodge plays Death, a confident and comedic character that struts around in an all-black costume with purple lipstick. Lodge is the only member of the cast to play a singular character: representing that death is always around us. This is reinforced when he literally goes into the audience and interacts with them.
His brutal honesty about life and death shocks his godchild (played by Jack Mailer), who is now a physician. The physician, along with his sister, create a business to try and help those who are about to die. Mailer’s voice in his solo “Let You Down” is exquisite. It is a sharp contrast from the comedy that has unfolded just moments before, and this creates a jolting impact on the audience.
Aila Swan portrays the roles of God, the Sibling and the Queen; each of which encompasses distinct emotions and she expertly brings authenticity to each character. Iona Stewart plays both the Mother and Princess. She depicts the Princess’s boundless enthusiasm for life perfectly, which sharply contrasts with the Mother’s overwhelming despair.
The costumes are basic yet imaginatively employed. For instance, a jacket initially folded to symbolise a swaddled baby transforms into the physician’s blazer, signifying time passing. I also liked God’s fur shawl, representing opulence, in comparison to the Devil’s plainer clothes. Each cast member has makeup on making them appear pale, green and incredibly unwell. Even the musicians, who are positioned on the stage, look like they’re at Death’s door.
The stage is simple; decorated with candles, a religious cross and piles of old-looking papers by the drum kit. A keyboard is squeezed in in the corner as well. However, the small studio space at Greenside is a bit too restrictive for this show. I would love to watch the production again but on a bigger stage, to see what the cast could do with the additional room.
The singing is fantastic and their voices blend harmoniously. Each song is distinctive and memorable, carrying the narrative forward. My favourite is the finale “Everybody Dies (Thank Fuck)”. It’s an upbeat, jazzy number which gets the audience laughing and clapping along.
The evident enjoyment of the cast and musicians in their performance is infectious and it significantly uplifts the audience’s experience. This musical is just starting its journey, and I’m confident it will achieve even greater success: Finlay and Jack Avison have created a killer show.
Directed by: Finlay Avison
Musical direction by: Jack Avison
Godfather Death has completed its run at the Fringe. To keep up to date with the show, further information can be found here.
