The After Dinner Joke

‘The After Dinner Joke’, is a 1978 comedy play, with a message, written by Caryl Churchill (who turned 70 last month) is showing at The Hayman Theatre, Curtin University at 8.00 pm each evening until 11^th October.

          It is a busy office, of a big company, where the angelic Miss Selby (Simone Ruggiero) is the secretary to C.E.O. (Tom Walding). He transfers Selby to the charity branch, as she wishes to do good for the world. Miss Selby proclaim that for the cost of a car, a consumer could pay for cows to nourish scores of children. Accountant Dent, (Ashley MacDougall) is a hardhearted colleague who wants to run a hard-hitting, but inoffensive, advertising.
        Upon seeking help from the Lady Mayor (Claire Lacy) – who has one interest in life, snakes! - Selby meets central and local government opposition. In fact, every good idea that poor Selby comes up with, appears to have political undertones.
        Selby travels to a country devastated by hurricanes, and is kidnapped by guerrillas. A thief (Lincoln Dodd) with strong overtones of Rik Mayall, offers stolen money, which she refuses. When a sheik buys Marks and Spencer’s Selby is there looking for a handout. The local politicians have a pie-throwing contest. Can hard fundraising and social caring ever be truly compatible?

Originally written for the BBC television’s series ‘Play for Today’, this production is directed by Leah Mercer. Churchill satirises the politics of charity, and the lack of charity in politics. She asked that the play be in the ‘Monty Python’ genre, and this is exactly what happens. We have a brilliant blend of ‘Python’, ‘Bottom’, and ‘A Shot in the Dark’.
‘The After-Dinner Joke’ unfolded as a fast moving, punchy series of well-blended overlapping sketches. Selby is dressed as Alice from ‘Through the Looking Glass’, and exhibits the same naïve and positive innocence as Alice.
The production was flawlessly envisaged and executed. Slick lighting, clever choice of music and sound effects. Leah Mercer took a risk placing so many of the first year students in one play, but they have rewarded her well, every performance was strong and filled with character. Great fun, not typical of Caryl Churchill.