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Experience a raucous romp through the funeral parlour with fallen funeral director Ebenezer Schadenfreude & his bizarre gypsy entourage. As performed at Melbourne's La Mama, Glasshouse, Dante's, Czech Club, Cabaret Voltaire & Bizarre Music Festival!

Spiced up with musical numbers from beyond the grave, this original take on Weimar cabaret is not for the faint-hearted! Directed by Emily Nisman & written by Drew Sinton, the show revolves around a bizarre funeral director called Ebenezer Schadenfreude who falls on hard times.

With his rag-tag gypsy troupe - including Slutte, Candy & Australia's smallest dancin' diva, the Divine Miss Em - Ebenezer conducts a dark & edgy, sometimes gritty, mock-serious funeral service.

The audience is seated around a coffin containing an unnamed local gangster. During the service, Ebenezer reveals how bad life choices reduced him to “freelancing” for local criminals.

Performances rely on traditional commedia dell’arte techniques, involving songs, jokes, improvisation & comedy sketches, which follow conventional plot lines of jealousy, adultery, avarice & sex.

Cast includes:

Ebenezer (Drew Sinton). A mischievous vampire-like “peacock” who brags about being an “aristocrat” & cavalier, but is a failure. Berlin-born Ebenezer combines Arlecchino, Il Capitano & Scaramouche, & uses the funeral to obsess over his perceived injustices. Drew writes & performs for Haunted Australia, Australian Encounters & The Haunted Melbourne Ghost Tour.

Slutte (Emily Nisman). Ebenezer’s thieving gypsy cousin who crashes the funeral to fleece the congregation of whatever she can. “A Transylvanian trollop,” Slutte is the Colombina of the troupe: clever, crafty, exotic & untamed. Emily is an established dancer & singer within Melbourne’s Russian & Jewish communities. She also teaches at Melbourne Salsa.

Candy (Jonaye Tait). Prostitute & gangster’s moll who has the disrespectful habit of turning tricks at funerals. Candy is the Innamorata of the troupe; the sexy temptress Isobella who is constantly in search of her Flavio. Jonaye is a talented former Sydney singer & dancer who has performed at RSL clubs around NSW.

Divine Miss Em (Emma Hawkins). Standing at just 1 metre (3' 6"), Divine Miss Em is Australia’s smallest dancin’ diva. While Slutte may steal your purse or wallet, this feisty tap-dancing redhead will steal your heart. Emma has performed in the Sydney Opera House, with Crusty Demons & at the Adelaide & Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.

Angel of Music (Erin Blackie). Ebenezer’s unwitting muse who must learn how to deal with the troublesome Slutte & playful Candy if she is to survive Petite Mort. Erin is lead singer of Melbourne cybergoth band, Death of Art & is a talented actor, dancer & singer.

Widow Gretel (Mannequin). Ebenezer’s Isabella, or love interest. It becomes clear that Ebenezer knows more about relating to the dead than he does the living. Hence a mannequin was cast for the role.

Uri Frolov (Funeral orchestra director). The gypsy band leader who accompanies Ebenezer & his troupe in their storytelling. Uri is the Pedrolino of the troupe: trustworthy, honest & charming. Uri has played for the Bolshoi Theatre Company & is an accomplished & established pianist & double bassist.

Anthony Kwong (Funeral organist). A gypsy band member who helps set the mood by accompanying Ebenezer & his troupe with funerary music. Like Uri, Anthony is another Pedrolino: likeable & loyal. Anthony is an accomplished pianist & organist & teaches music around Melbourne.

In Memoriam

Helga (Jonaye Tait). A funeral crasher who followed Ebenezer from Germany in the belief he could support her financially. Used to crash Petite Mort funerals in Fitzroy. Has since found a new sugar daddy but, like most women Ebenezer knows, her legs are open for better offers.

Tinka (Alanah Pearson). Petite Mort's resident cosmetician who used to turn up at all the wrong times because, for disability reasons, she couldn’t read the roster. Very noisy & disruptive with her white cane.

Stash (Alanah Pearson). Goth & former Petite Mort beautician who found depressing her mother at home too limiting. Instead, she would read out her wrist-slashing emo poetry during funeral services, while messing up bodies during work hours. Now resides on MySpace.

Bookings

La Mama Theatre, Carlton: 9347 6142
The Glasshouse, Collingwood: 9419 4748
Dante's, Fitzroy: 9417 2468

Enquiries

Emily Nisman (Director/co-producer): 042 397 4162
Drew Sinton (Writer/co-producer): 9670 2585

Ebenezer has also performed standup at Theatrical Mayhem & Carni & emceed the FushunArtsa fashion show with Slutte. He also emceed the Melbourne Bizarre Music Festival.

Sponsored by The Haunted Bookshop

"Petite Mort" is a registered business name (ABN B2120198A)
"Ebenezer Schadenfreude" is a registered business name (ABN B2120197Y)