Everybody Dies in December
Kaj Hasselriis | CBC News | Posted: July 17, 2016 4:40 PM | Last Updated: July 17, 2016
THREE STARS | This dry show about death won't kill you but it probably won't perk you up, either
Rating: ★★★
Company: Broken Turtle Productions, Ottawa
Genre: Play — Dramedy
Venue: 11 — Red River College (Roblin Centre)
"My job starts when you die."
And even if you die in a bloody car crash, the expert embalmer played by Nancy Kenny in Everybody Dies in December will make sure you look fabulous in an open casket.
"I get to make people beautiful for the very last time."
You won't die of boredom but unless you really like dry jokes about death, I doubt you'll be very stimulated, either. - Kaj Hasselriis
This one-woman show is filled with reassuring words like that, along with some handy fun facts about how to dress up corpses. For instance, if a dead man's blood pools around his privates, you might have to tape the erection to his leg "so it won't be distracting during the viewing."
Kenny delivers a solid performance but her character, Claire, is quite low-key. Coupled with the fact that there isn't much drama in the show, it makes for a pretty long hour. You won't die of boredom but unless you really like dry jokes about death, I doubt you'll be very stimulated, either.