Critics
LemonMeter
Reviews: 2
Audience
LemonMeter
Reviews: 0
Death, with Benefits is a dark comedy “inspired” by the terribly true story of the infamous “Killer Grannies of Santa Monica,” also known as the “Black Widows.”
Two mature ladies bond over the awful emotional and financial situations their deceased husbands have left them. To fix their predicaments, they concoct a pernicious get rich plan: Take in sickly men, get them to sign lavish life insurance policies with the women as beneficiaries, and care for them until they pass away. The only problem is that their guests are not passing away quickly enough, so the ladies decide to speed up the process.
Written by John Strysik. Directed by Jeff G. Rack. Presented by Theatre 40.
Reviews
Writer John Strysik does an excellent job in combining death and humor without making it appear as a huge joke. Yes, it’s death. Yes, people die. However, something, somewhere in that delicate web of decorum, there’s a little bit of humor trying to come out without taking away the seriousness of the situation. Damante and David make a great team. They feed off each other’s energy creating a magnificent duo who complement each other. They prove the female comedy duos are just as valid, or even more so than the male counterparts. It’s all about the funny. And Strysik does and admirable job of conveying it with style and class.
sweet - Mary E. Montoro, All About the Stage - ...read full review
Damante and David are thoroughly devoted to their characters, but something about their friendship seemed forced and not as natural as it should have been. Unfortunately, David’s overbearing Eastern European accent made it almost impossible to understand what Duscha was saying. Thus, the initial humor between the two women as they get to know one another was often lost to the audience, making their pauses for laughter greeted with silence. And while the premise seemed promising, this world premiere play is desperately in need of major editing as the ultra-slow pace destroys much of the intended humor, with extra-loud operatic music blasted over loudspeakers at a decibel that shook the walls.
sweet-sour - Shari Barrett - Culver City News - ...read full review
Writer John Strysik does an excellent job in combining death and humor without making it appear as a huge joke. Yes, it’s death. Yes, people die. However, something, somewhere in that delicate web of decorum, there’s a little bit of humor trying to come out without taking away the seriousness of the situation. Damante and David make a great team. They feed off each other’s energy creating a magnificent duo who complement each other. They prove the female comedy duos are just as valid, or even more so than the male counterparts. It’s all about the funny. And Strysik does and admirable job of conveying it with style and class.
sweet - Mary E. Montoro, All About the Stage - ...read full review
Damante and David are thoroughly devoted to their characters, but something about their friendship seemed forced and not as natural as it should have been. Unfortunately, David’s overbearing Eastern European accent made it almost impossible to understand what Duscha was saying. Thus, the initial humor between the two women as they get to know one another was often lost to the audience, making their pauses for laughter greeted with silence. And while the premise seemed promising, this world premiere play is desperately in need of major editing as the ultra-slow pace destroys much of the intended humor, with extra-loud operatic music blasted over loudspeakers at a decibel that shook the walls.
sweet-sour - Shari Barrett - Culver City News - ...read full review
