While chaos and violence unravel outside, within the safety and comfort of a hospital ward two strangers meet for a blind date. One is Henriette, who is at her mother’s bedside. It is the most unlikely of places to have a first date, but it goes ahead and as it does the pair share their feelings about everything that is happening around them. The dark comic story is embellished by the arrival of the Morgue Twins, two bizarre chaps that bring a strange element of humour to the ward.
The premise of a city being in chaos and the hospital being the last bastion of hope is an intriguing one - but does it really work? A Sky Burial doesn’t give its audience enough information about why it is all happening and it was a struggle to stay interested in the story or care about any of the characters. I found myself wondering about certain plot holes such as how all the medical equipment and essential supplies are maintained in this hospital now that all the staff have abandoned it - but perhaps I was trying to read too much into it.
Having said all of that, this young cast did well working with the material they were given. The performer who plays Henriette was convincing and the Morgue Twins were funny but unnerving - a good interpretation of what was intended for the characters.
However, the play was somewhat underwhelming throughout and then towards the end regained the audience’s interest. It is imperative to feel for the characters and learn a bit more about the chaos that is ensuing outside if this performance is to seriously work. There could be a really fascinating story in this play, but the finger is not quite on the pulse yet.
