To say this is the funniest RomCom I've seen about Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis might be faint praise; to say this is one of the funniest shows I've seen about death is another matter.
Lights up the stage with energy and authenticity
This solo show is written and performed by Harriet Madeley, who plays the gloriously insensitive and self-centred Olive. Tess, her intended, is a war correspondent. Olive needs to win a Pulitzer Prize to even the prestige field before she gets married. But she needs a serious subject. What is more serious, taboo, and ground-breaking than death? Her editor is clearly dubious but doesn't say no.
As Olive realises, you can't interview the dead, so the dying will have to do. She’s been feeling bloated, so she books herself in for an examination at the hospital as an excuse to sneak into the palliative care ward and tout for interviews, or at least leave her business cards with the dying.
Reluctantly, she goes for her examination and the doctor tells her they've found something unexpected – PSC. But she's not to worry. “Don't Google it,” the doctor says. But she does, and finds out her death is already a year overdue. (Her editor is now keen to get the article ASAP.)
So begins Olive’s journey, helped by a multitude of recorded poisonous comic characters; family, friends, and a hilarious Siri-like voice of the internet. However, it is Harriet Madeley herself who lights up the stage with energy and authenticity. She has the great gift of making sympathetic what is in some ways a rather unpleasant character; I suppose part of the charm is that you instantly know Olive is a parody of the writer herself.
Finally, we have a video of photos from the real events of Harriet's life that inspired the show. Carpe Diem. Seize the play!
