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Wife After Death

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  4w, 2m

Eric Chappell

"A terrific evening of love and laughter." - The British Theatre Guide

Comedian and national treasure Dave Thursby has died, and on the day of his funeral, friends and colleagues gather beside his coffin to pay their last respects. There's Harvey, who wrote Dave's material; Vi, Harvey's wife; Kevin, Dave's agent, and Ke…

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 2m

Details

Summary
Comedian and national treasure Dave Thursby has died, and on the day of his funeral, friends and colleagues gather beside his coffin to pay their last respects. There's Harvey, who wrote Dave's material; Vi, Harvey's wife; Kevin, Dave's agent, and Kevin's wife Jane. Dave's glamorous widow Laura has arranged a funeral to remember, complete with a horse-drawn hearse and an attendant dog. An unfamiliar woman in flamboyant mourning clothes turns out to be Kay, Dave's ex-wife from before he was famous, and a series of revelations end with Kevin throwing a drink into the coffin and all the guests asking themselves if they ever knew the "real" Dave.

Act II opens three weeks later for the disposal of Dave's ashes. The atmosphere is tense and Kevin is wearing a controversial tie, but as more truths are revealed, even from beyond the crematorium Dave seems to be having the last laugh.

History
Wife After Death was first presented at the Theatre Royal, Brighton in March 2010, with Tom Conti playing Harvey..
Comedian and national treasure Dave Thursby has died, and on the day of his funeral, friends and colleagues gather beside his coffin to pay their last respects. There's Harvey, who wrote Dave's material; Vi, Harvey's wife; Kevin, Dave's agent, and Kevin's wife Jane. Dave's glamorous widow Laura has arranged a funeral to remember, complete with a horse-drawn hearse and an attendant dog. An unfamiliar woman in flamboyant mourning clothes turns out to be Kay, Dave's ex-wife from before he was famous, and a series of revelations end with Kevin throwing a drink into the coffin and all the guests asking themselves if they ever knew the "real" Dave.

Act II opens three weeks later for the disposal of Dave's ashes. The atmosphere is tense and Kevin is wearing a controversial tie, but as more truths are revealed, even from beyond the crematorium Dave seems to be having the last laugh.

Media

"A terrific evening of love and laughter." - The British Theatre Guide

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

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Author

Eric Chappell

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