GLAD TO BE DEAD? at the Hen and Chickens Theatre

★★

“It’s an impressive feat to perform one monologue, let alone multiple”

At the core of Glad to Be Dead? is a fascinating idea, but it is let down by a lack of cohesion, in theme, style and narrative.

It is an hour of monologues, told from beyond the grave. Some are historical figures; others are famous fictional characters. Each ghost is trapped alone in a room, able to watch the world through their window. It is slightly unclear how much of the world they can see, some seem to be confined to the memories of their creator, or themselves, while others can see our world and can pass judgement on it. Many of the ghosts berate us, pointing out flaws with modern life. Each monologue recounts the character’s life, sometimes dipping into philosophical musings.

The trouble is the choice of characters is random and disconnected. They include Casper the friendly ghost, Dorian Gray, and Reyna Angélica Marroquín, a young woman who was murdered in the 1960s. Some of the stories are interesting, because they’re less well known. But that’s a very different style to the monologues which are nods to famous fictional characters. Maybe the piece would work better by focussing on one of these stories, perhaps Irish murderer Katherine Webster, whose story is gripping, though the presentation of it reads a little like a Wikipedia entry. Many of the characters struggle to come to life, and feel a bit trapped by the weight of facts – there are lots of names and dates. Perhaps finding a stronger overarching theme would give the piece a little more narrative cohesion, as it feels a bit disjointed.

Mother/daughter writing duo Donna and Jade Flack have chosen some interesting figures, and the concept of these ghosts who are trapped in their rooms is really poignant. Casper, who is a child, just wants to play, and that loneliness is moving. There could be a little more light and shade in the piece, as it does feel tonally quite similar throughout. The moralising nature of many of the ghosts brings a strange preachiness at times, which is a shame. It would be nice to see these characters having a bit more fun.

It’s an impressive feat to perform one monologue, let alone multiple, and Barbara Llewellyn, Bruce Murray and Jade Flack (a writer/performer) all manage admirably. Llewellyn brought a real gusto to her characters, Murray a wry knowingness and Flack had a strong energy.

There are parts of Glad to Be Dead? which are thought provoking, and moving. It packs a huge amount into the hour, and learning about some of the characters was interesting, but in the end, there needs to be something more.

GLAD TO BE DEAD? at the Hen and Chickens Theatre

Reviewed on 31st July 2023

by Auriol Reddaway

Photography by ShillingSnaps

Previously reviewed at this venue:

Lautrec | ★★★½ | August 2022

Glad to be Dead

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★★★★

“Camblor is a masterful and mad comic performer. She is definitely one to keep an eye out for”

Maybe I Do …? is a wild and joyous whirlwind, taking us through the romantic disasters of a woman who can’t help but hear wedding bells every time a man suggests a casual coffee. Carmen is a mess. It’s her wedding day, she’s marrying the wrong man, he’s in prison AND the wedding is on Zoom. She embarks on the tale of her romantic life, addressing the priest and gathered virtual congregation. What follows is a whistle-stop tour of the men she’s met and dated since moving to the U.K., as well as some very strong Spanish and British cultural commentary.

Writer/performer Cova Camblor’s monologue is skilled and consistently funny, pulling out witty one-liners, great Spanish/English misinterpretations and an impressive level of physical comedy. It’s a practised and confident performer who can play with silence, and Camblor (as well as director Anca Vaida) knows she can make it work. Early on, Camblor mimes her nonchalant reaction to a text from the man of her dreams. As the audience roared, we knew we were in safe hands. Camblor is very much in control, and each segment is well-structured and beautifully executed. Sometimes the transitions between each wild story feel a bit undercooked, but the energy and joy of the performance gives the piece a strong drive.

It’s a simple set, just a table and chair with an iPad (the whole piece is a Zoom call) and Carmen’s phone, on which her sexy love interest occasionally texts her. Camblor is decked out in full wedding dress and veil, and struts around the space, confidently taking up space. There are two moments of voiceover from the priest, which creates really useful bookends for a piece which could risk ambling on indefinitely. The lighting is simple and shifts for some of the anecdotes, helping to shake up the mood for each story.

Some of the plot doesn’t quite come together, we never do get to the bottom of why Steve Stevens is in prison. But it doesn’t really matter. In some moments though the energy does sag a little. A lot of the comedy comes from Camblor’s dramatically thick Spanish accent, but at times it can be a bit hard to follow, which means some of the well-crafted jokes fall a bit flat.

However, for such a short piece, it really packs in the laughs and Camblor is a masterful and mad comic performer. She is definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Tag Archives: Hen and Chickens Theatre

Glad to be Dead?

★★

Hen and Chickens Theatre

GLAD TO BE DEAD? at the Hen and Chickens Theatre

★★

“It’s an impressive feat to perform one monologue, let alone multiple”