Currently available to rent on-demand, Working for Crumbs is a twisted office comedy described as “9 to 5 meets Weekend at Bernie’s!“
Written by Kate Danley and directed by Cecilie Fray, this play has just finished a live run at The Space, which culminated in Saturday’s livestream.
Amy (Megan Thorne) and Grace (Molly Keogh) are secretaries to a truly horrendous boss, Helen (Eliza Williams). When something bizarre and twisted happens and the frighful Helen winds up dead, the stakes and absurdity go sky high.
A very funny black farce that will appeal to anyone who has been trapped in the worst of the world of work, Working for Crumbs has its two hapless heroines in pink embroiled in an ever more bizarre situation.
In a brisk 100 minutes, the corporate world with all its quirks and oddities is given a shake. Thorne and Keogh are amusing as the employees you really wouldn’t want anywhere near your company, and their physical timing and movement is fun to watch.
Where there’s a bit of mischief, there is always enjoyment. Danley’s play pushes up the ridiculous and gives us a sense of catharsis; after all, who hasn’t wanted sweet revenge beyond the meetings and SMART objectives?
As a digital production, I would have liked the sound to be slightly clearer, or the stream captioned, but with headphones it is fine, and I watched with no technical problems. The Space has a decent sized performance area which is well-used here.
Does this story really click? It makes little sense on the surface, but not everything needs a deep meaning: instead, fringe work like this (with a long apprenticeship of readings and workshops in the USA and a 2019 world premiere in Canada) is an essential part of what makes theatre tick.
On the New Play Exchange, it is explained that “the piece is meant to be stylised, harkening back to Commedia and Restoration theatre.” I would say this is a recognisable theme, alongside an obvious affinity to the Whitehall farces but with women front and centre.
You can enjoy the committed comedy chops of Thorne and Keogh’s double act here, even if every gag doesn’t quite work. An enjoyable, above-average piece of silliness.
Working for Crumbs is now available to watch on-demand until 23 May: tickets here.
***.5