Speedy Mustard by Marty Murphy

One hour and you'll meet twenty five characters you'll not really want to spend any more time with than you have to. Quite an oddball soup, with a flourish of an after-taste.


Death takes the introduction and delivers a prologue that sets the night's entertainment. An off-kilter remark here and there and his sense of wickedness belies the fact that he plays part in the night's tale of meandering maudlin.

Standing under the spotlight against the lone mike, Marty Murphy creates a strange outback world for the setting of his film festival that nobody has ever heard of. Complicit in this environment are the many characters along the way, from a mutant creature with a sense of fashion to a precocious young ghost who remains ever the impish sprite.

Murphy is astonishing in drawing out these various characters. Often in quick succession and conversation, some doubt perhaps as to whether or not there isn't more than one voice in his head.

Murphy's ability to slip in and out amongst the dazzling array of strange and bewildering characters suggests the work of dark magic. Or at least, an innately bizarre understanding of other people, no matter how demented and offbeat their cursed lot in life.

Quirky dance pieces open and close the show to present a seriously deft punctuation in humour. Moves which show - imagination is never only the realm of children, and mime can be great in the right setting.

Lighting is eerie as it switches and keeps apace with beats in dialogue. As if through the channelling spirits, they control even the mood from ambient lights and direct the power to underline their presence.

Not all minds are made to hold the same. Those out to lose themselves in slapstick or broadside comedy will find disappointment. Clarity of straight line delivery suffers in the oft-times wayward streak of thoughts. Subtlety is key and leaves a few lingering moments to serve itself and to register.

Speedy Mustard is a bemusing tale of lunatics, aspirants and earnest folk.

:: Speedy Mustard :: playing until 13th May, 2006 at Griffin's Stables Theatre, Sydney.

Soon Van

Published May 2006 at The Program - NSW Stage reviews

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