Theatre / The Cadaver Palaver, written and performed by Christopher Samuel Carroll. At The Courtyard Studio, until September 14. Reviewed by JOE WOODWARD.
Local audiences are in for a real comedy performance treat with one of the nation’s leading theatrical identities presenting a show that has had multiple performances internationally and throughout Australia being presented in the intimate space of The Courtyard Theatre.
Christopher Samuel Carroll is simply electric with his versatile physical and vocal virtuosity to present a one-person adventure on a bare stage.
The Independents Festival of New Works is to be congratulated for presenting a stage genius for local audiences.
Carroll is rising to the league of Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Darren Gilshenan as an exponent of creative investment in theatrical creativity and performance. His linking with Australian sensibilities while utilising a very British vernacular provides for an exceptional audience experience.
Audiences can see the influence of his training from Ecole Jacques Lecoq while be astounded by the dexterity of vocal delivery to deliver nuances and subtlety presented at speed and clever variations in intensity. Carroll also retains the residue of influences from such diverse performers as Peter Sellers, Terry Thomas and Steven Berkoff.
Carroll works the one-person presentation with that same ease and studied characterisation as Peter Carroll once did with Ron Blair’s The Christian Brothers production (in a very different context) nearly 50 years ago. He even sheds his strong Irish accent to take on a multitude of accents including a Scottish accent at various points in the show. I don’t know of any other Australian performer who integrates the mimetic movement form with vocal characterisations with such ease as seen in the work by Carroll.
I don’t want to give away the plot or even the context of the work. The opening moments provided such questions and strange tensions that it is best for the audience to also come in cold while knowing they are in for something special.
Audiences with some knowledge of the semi-colonial literature of Kipling and even from Oscar Wilde will find The Cadaver Palaver particularly comedic, paradoxical and anti-thought provoking!
Christopher Samuel Carroll takes you on a seemingly contemporary journey into a past aesthetic and does this with extreme flair and well-honed skill and experience with audiences. Nothing like The Cadaver Palaver has been seen in Canberra in recent years. If you can get a ticket; do so now…
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