Good Grief
Playhouse Poster
An obituary is arguably one of the most significant things that will ever be written about you. When they lost a good friend of theirs, “Ugly Bucket” rose to the challenge creating an iconic, side splittingly hilarious, and captivating show about the highs and lows of processing grief.
Opening with an explosive montage resembling the viral “dumb ways to die” comically illustrating a series of ridiculous death, the excellent ensemble continued to explore the acceptance of death through vibrant physical theatre. It had everything from rabid white blood cells terrorising an intestinal night club and 80s raver zombie sequences, to sensitive audio diary accounts of Christmases celebrated in June from hospital beds.
The ultimate takeaway was that although devastating, grief shouldn’t be shunned away from our lives. “Good Grief” teaches a rare lesson that we shouldn’t wait around until our final moments to discuss the inevitability of death. The company’s sharp wit and emotive acting set the stage a-blaze, captivating the audience with chaotic juxtaposition of off the wall hysterics and foreboding sadness.
The neon lighting and comical set design made the entire production a visual delight, paired with audio captions throughout. The company even had a “familiarity tour” allowing audiences to come into the theatre before doors officially open, explore the entire space including the stage, and even listen to audio tracks to assess sound levels. Borrowable fidget toys were available on the door free of charge for attendees with sensorial disabilities. These simple gestures showed the company going above and beyond to make their magnificent production inclusive.
The sentimentality of human relationships shone through emanating a tangible warmth throughout the theatre.
Grief is something we all go through, and there is no right or wrong way to process it. “Good Grief” bottles up these emotions innovatively allowing viewers to takeaway valuable life lessons home with them. There truly is something for everyone in this gleeful little show about death.
