Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer

April 30th, May 1st and 2nd at the Riddell Memorial Hall

The play takes place in the London flat of Brindsley Miller, a young, aspiring sculptor, and his fiancée, Carol Melkett. Desperate to appear well-off and sophisticated, Brindsley has, without permission, “borrowed” expensive antique furniture from the flat of his fastidious neighbour, Harold Gorringe, an antique dealer who is away for the weekend. The plan is to impress two important guests expected that evening: Carol’s stern, military father, Colonel Melkett, and a wealthy German art collector named Georg Bamberger, who Brindsley hopes will buy his sculptures. The play starts with the stage in complete darkness.  Just before the guests arrive, the main fuse in the flat blows, plunging the entire building into “darkness”. In a brilliant theatrical twist, the stage lights come up for the audience to see the characters stumbling around as if they are in complete darkness. When a match or lighter is lit, the stage lights dim to simulate the limited light source. Chaos quickly ensues as unexpected visitors arrive, one by one, into the pitch-black apartment. Miss Furnival, wanders in and accidentally consumes a significant amount of Scotch. Colonel Melkett arrives and is unimpressed by the situation. Harold Gorringe returns home unexpectedly early, forcing Brindsley into a frantic, physical comedy routine as he tries to return the purloined furniture to the hallway without Harold noticing. Clea, Brindsley’s former, more free-spirited girlfriend, also appears, having slipped in unnoticed. She overhears the others talking about her and subtly begins to sabotage Brindsley’s engagement plans. Through a series of hilarious misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and slapstick mishaps, Brindsley’s web of lies unravels. When the actual millionaire, Georg Bamberger, and the electrician, Schuppanzigh, arrive, they are mistaken for each other. Eventually, Clea reveals herself, Harold discovers his stolen furniture, and the engagement is broken off. The play concludes as the electrician finally fixes the fuse, plunging the stage into genuine darkness for the audience just as the characters “see the light” of truth and the consequences of their deceptions.