Theater Review : Fast Pace Keeps ‘Corpse’ Kicking

There is no brotherly love in Gerald Moon’s mystery-comedy “Corpse.” As a matter of fact, twins Evelyn and Rupert Farrant each wishes his brother were a corpse. Evelyn is an out-of-work actor, hoping to even the score for his mother’s desertion by their ne’er-do-well father, and for their stepfather’s favoritism toward Rupert. And Evelyn wouldn’t mind having the money and position Rupert inherited in the bargain.

Evelyn hires Maj. Ambrose Powell to kill Rupert in a scheme that’s as involved as it is funny and that sets in motion a sort of domino effect. Each twin becomes a corpse at various times, and enough mistaken identities develop to fascinate any audience, which is entirely Moon’s plan.

If this production at Garden Grove Community Theatre misses many of its beats, and if most of the British accents are deplorable, director Mitchell Nunn at least keeps the piece moving at a relentless speed and has the stage trickery mostly in hand.

The only character who sounds even vaguely authentic is Rupert, played by Alan Schuliger, the supposititious twin brother of Mark Schuliger. Although his accent as Evelyn is as overboard as the supporting cast’s, Mark Schuliger is quite authentic-sounding when he’s pretending to be Rupert after the first time Rupert is murdered. The confusion is intentional and speaks for Schuliger’s versatility. He also has a good comic sense that keeps the production on the right, light level.

John Gilbert hasn’t developed much of a character as Powell, the Irish major dedicated to doing the dirty work for the 10,000 he’ll receive after Evelyn becomes Rupert and takes over his brother’s estate. Gilbert’s accent waffles from Irish to cockney and back, and his caricature is solely bombast.

Mary O’Brien, as Evelyn’s besotted and randy landlady, and Michael Havnaer’s Constable Hawkins would appear to better advantage if Nunn had cut their performance level in half.

Nunn doesn’t appreciate the subtlety the performance should have to capture the play’s delicate sense of outrageous reality, including his mistake in having an actor reading King Edward VIII’s 1936 abdication speech rather than using the readily available live recording. Nunn’s distrust of the play’s humor leads him to allow his actors to add funny to an already clever script.

Nunn’s own set design is fine for Evelyn’s basement digs but is tacky and threadbare for Rupert’s elegant townhouse.

* “Corpse,” Garden Grove Community Theatre, 12001 St. Mark St., Garden Grove. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; matinee Sunday, 2 p.m. Ends May 6. $10. (714) 897-5122. Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.

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Mark Schuliger: Evelyn Farrant

Mary O’Brien: Mrs. McGee

John Gilbert: Maj. Ambrose Powell

Alan Schuliger: Rupert Farrant

Michael Havnaer: Hawkins

A Garden Grove Community Theatre production of the Gerald Moon mystery-comedy, produced by Daniel Schneider and William Ripper. Direction/scenic design: Mitchell Nunn. Lighting design: Lee Schulman. Costume design: Linda Garen Smith. Fight choreography: Michael Havnaer. Stage manager: Ramsey Warfield.