He Died with a Falafel in his Hand

‘He Died with a Falafel in His Hand’ is the 1994 Australian cult classic by John Birmingham that sold 300,000 copies. It was adapted for the stage by Simon Bedak, Steve Le Marquand and Michael Neaylon, now, Groovy Boots Theatre are proudly presenting this revival, a brave new adaptation of Australia’s longest running comedy play written especially for Perth.

This feral production is showing at The Flying Scotsman's Velvet Lounge, 639 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley on Thursday and Saturday nights at 8.00 pm until the 29^th June. There are two Sunday ‘matinees’ on the 16^th and 23^rd June at the earlier time of 7.00 pm. Check the performance dates before turning up, as many have been changed.

The small stage is set up as a scruffy share house, using that icon of students’ dwellings – the milk crate – for furniture. A very narrow changing ‘room’, consisting of a black curtain, is alongside the audience. Many congratulations on the quietness of the cast off-stage.

       It is early morning in a Balga share house. The detritus that live there are waking to a brand new day. The only semi-sober member of the household is the writer and narrator, John Birmingham – JB (Steve Hounsome). There is a loud banging at the front door, Guru Bob (Josh Crane) struggles to his feet, and Beck (Taylor Russert) rushes back into the room announcing that it is the cops. Panic hits the house. Lying unconscious on the couch, with a falafel in his hand, is a stranger, Geoffrey (Murray Jackson) so everyone dumps their drugs in his pocket before making a run for it. 

      The front door is broken down and Sergeant Cahill (Cath Jennings) storms in, only to find that Geoffrey is dead. Along with the sergeant is a Centrelink investigator, Bevan Blewett (Chris Thomas), he has come check his records and confirm just how many boat people really live there.

    JB decides it is time to move on, and flits into a Lake Street flat with his new love, stripper Serina (Molly Kerr) and the very nervous, pedantic civil servant, Rachel (Krysia Wiechecki). They are seated on the sofa watching a TV cookery programme on how to cook fish fingers. The chef (Katie Cameron) quotes her recipes in a hilarious, unique manner. JB is asked by sexy blonde, Sweden (Sophie Joske) to join her on her holiday adventure.

      Life becomes difficult and so JB moves to another house where a motherly figure, who thinks that she is Heath Ledger’s ‘Joker’ (Sarah Christiner) tries to take care of him. However, our hero likes attractive Deborah (Nicole Miller) but is unaware of her extra nocturnal activities until a local MP (Chris Greenwood) turns up at the flat. Then there is the Decoy (Phil Barnett) who hasn’t two brain cells to rub together. 

      Should JB simply go home and live with his parents?

This rewrite has new locations, new characters and is far more risqué than the original. Directors Phil Barnett and Chris Thomas have the whole 140-minute show galloping along at an exciting pace. There are 50, very different characters that most students will instantly recognise. Most of the cast are in their early twenties, although there were some older actors such as Phil Barnett.

The quality of the characterisation is exceptionally good, with this talented cast having a full grasp of the people that they are playing and not simply changing clothes but taking on the different mannerisms. The costumes, supplied by the cast, were superb. The lighting and sound (teching by Graeme Johnson) in such a small venue is bound to be a challenge, and with the troupe being asked to do a rig and bump-out every night, things must be very difficult.

This is definitely a ‘strictly adults only’ play, so please do not attend and then complain about the crude and disgusting content. The cast are bravely pushing the boundaries. Vegetarians should not sit in the front row of this intimate venue in case they are unintentionally turkey-slapped. If you had to Google that last sentence to understand it, then you will possibly miss half the references and innuendos. The play is like ‘The Young Ones’ only feral and totally manic. The girls are sexy and sometimes skimpy, and then there is Josh! Good on ya! If you are going to put on a show like this, be like this gang, have the courage to just go for it!

Certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but extremely funny. This production is much funnier, far more daring and better paced than the film. You will find yourself laughing out loud, then groaning and muttering ‘Did they really say and do that?’ Very good primal fun.