“Everyone has a family, but not all families are this dysfunctional.” That is according to director Phillip A. Mayer, about the basic premise of Family is Murder, a comedy by multi-award winning Gippsland-based Here There and Everywhere Theatre Company that has proved to be a smash-hit with audiences.
The show will head to Orbost this Saturday night at Orbost Secondary College drama room.
Inspired by real-life events the show is described as a “part comedy, part drama, part possible murder mystery, about a family with multiple issues and hidden agendas. It’s had audiences in stitches and guessing till the end”.
“We’re excited to bring the show to Orbost as part of our Gippsland tour. Audiences want to laugh, they want to be entertained, and getting back into the theatre to see a comedy. It’s the perfect remedy to lockdown,” Mayer said.
To set the scene, Albert Smith has made a lot of bad choices and they’re all about to catch up with him. Aside from his issues at home with his wife, mother and daughter, his gambling debts are due, his business is in financial trouble, his sister needs money and his extra-marital activities are about to come crashing down around him. When his lawyer offers an ethically questionable solution, Albert sees it as his only choice and proceeds down a dark path.
“This is inappropriate, farcical fun with twists and outrageous characters. It’s what everyone needs now, to get them back to live performance, something fun but with some messages about family values and morals,” Mayer said.
“The idea came from an article about a married fellow who had made many bad choices in regards to his business and his family. After a bit of research, it became apparent that normal people make ethically questionable decisions all the time, and end up in serious trouble.
“It seemed like great fodder for a show where actors could have a lot of fun with these very flawed characters, and the audience would be able to identify and associate perhaps, their family and friends.
“That’s what we’ve created with Family is Murder .
“We’ve been touring all over the region since February with sold out shows at Wonthaggi, Warragul, Sale and Traralgon among others and with the response we’re getting, we know audiences are loving it. We enjoy performing new material to regional audiences because we’re a Gippsland company and performing on home stages is just brilliant. We can’t wait to perform at Orbost, it’s really exciting for the ensemble.”
The company has toured various comedy shows including the hit Melbourne Comedy Festival shows Couples! and Table 17, the award-winning Bogan Shakespeare and audience favourite Sex Addicts.
“We do edgy comedy and something a bit different, in that it’s contemporary and highly relatable,” Mayer said.
“We’ve built a highly entertaining piece of comedy and it’s a treat for the actors to play these people and a treat for audiences to watch the train wreck unfold.”
Family is Murder is showing at Orbost Secondary College Drama Room at 7.30pm this Saturday, with a matinee planned if tickets sellout.
Contact the Orbost Exhibition Centre for tickets.

IMAGE: The cast from Family is Murder, which will be performed at Orbost Secondary College’s drama room this Saturday. (PS)