Cadaver Synod
In this new dark comedy by the creators of 638 Ways to Kill Castro, a medieval emperor and his allies take on an absurd task; dig up the long-dead Pope who betrayed them, and put his corpse on trial. But between riots in the Vatican and growing signs that the Pope may not be so dead after all, can they survive the Cadaver Synod?
An absolute gem of a show - exactly the sort of weird, wonderful, funny, creepy romp I want to see at the Fringe.
I was particularly impressed by the stagecraft and technical aspects (without wishing to give too much away, I got very excited when I walked in and noticed that the most important prop was on wires).
And while all the actors were very strong, Michael Watt's performance as a sweetly guileless pope deserves particular praise - he has such natural charisma and stage presence, it's impossible not to root for him.
A hysterical dark comedy, Cadaver Synod has audiences lining up around the block for all the right reasons. This brilliant trio of actors never misses a beat, never drop character, and fully embrace the world they create and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. This play is a staple for any fringegoer looking for a night of laughs, paranormal thrills, and a forbidden romance hidden just out sight.
I wasn't sure how this material could be turned into 'comedy'. But we laughed, and laughed, and cringed a bit that maybe we shouldn't be laughing at some of this!
Each actor was perfect for his role. The technical staff had great timing on their 'effects', lighting and music.
The story unfolds at a good pace. The twists are not too twisty but at the same time neither can you exactly predict where the action will end up.
This is a quintessential fringe show and you need to go see it. The script itself definitely feels new, and while things felt perhaps a bit stumbly especially near the end (endings are hard), it still has plenty of delightful legs to stand on. Or the normal number of legs. They're good legs. And it has good feet. They're not weird at all. I promise.
Special shout out to the shining star of this ensemble: Michael Watt. His papal performance made me want to believe in God, or made me believe that he IS God or at least could be if he wanted to. Watt's command of the stage is unparalleled. You wouldn't even have to bribe me to elect him as pope.
Beautifully irreverent, outrageous and hilarious. Cadver Synod is a fun show with a great cast and an impressive set. Definitely worth a trip to The Roxy.
"A funny thing happened on the way to the Vatican. The premise of Cadaver Synod, a new satire by the up-and-comer playwright Sebastian Ley (638 Ways To Kill Castro), is just too outrageous, too absurd, not to be on loan from reality...." Check out the full 12thnight REVIEW!