ED2022 3/5 Reviews ED2022 Theatre Reviews

The Funny Thing About Death (Kim Kalish)

By | Published on Wednesday 24 August 2022

Billed as a show about grief – this is about a specific bereavement: Kim Kalish’s boyfriend died suddenly at 23. Showing the impact of this loss means rewinding to her college years. She seamlessly embodies her younger-self’s simultaneous cockiness and naivety, eventually falling for a man who isn’t perfect, but loves her, and helps shape her formative years. Her loss is keenly felt, and frank descriptions of her grieving behaviours challenge weeping-widow stereotypes. The main humour is in affectionate impressions of her family, whose love shines through the caricatures. Some resonance is undermined by the production: an old white mat and stagey spotlight feel like student performance. The meandering storytelling and pacing suggest it would benefit from further editing and direction.

Greenside @ Infirmary Street, until 27 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Bizz Holmes]

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