There’s a lot to like in this darkly comic play about loss and grief. Our protagonist, Rita, a Polish immigrant who works in a funeral home, is coping with a breakup and processing the grief she feels after her mother dies back in Poland, without her. Hardly a recipe for laughs, and yet the script is punctuated with funny asides and intricately written poems, bringing the audience along with her emotional journey. There is perhaps too much going on though; the central metaphor of support for people being buried alive is an interesting take on helping people move on emotionally. But it leads to narrative distractions that muddy the waters, ironically pulling away from the strong central concerns.

Zoo Playground, until 24 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Andy Leask]