Funny, fast paced and enjoyable but as a two act play and with distracting bulging biceps, The Grim isn’t quite the crime drama I was hoping for.
Two East End Undertakers (cockney proprietor Shaun and Irish Catholic Robert) are just trying to get through another dull day in 1960’s London.
Although today isn’t quite as dull as usual because they are awaiting the arrival of the infamous murderer, Jackie Gallagher, to turn up on the slab. But when the body arrives, Jack is not quite as dead as expected.
Following a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe debut and a critically acclaimed run at London’s Old Red Lion Theatre, this ‘horror comic thriller’ is now playing at Southwark Playhouse Borough.
The Grim
As they prepare the coffins for those who have left the mortal world, Robert laments about an omen from old English folklore called ‘The Grim’ – said to be a black dog that haunts graveyards, and if you see one, it means you’re going to die. But surely that’s just a story – it can’t be true?
Strawberry bootlaces
Writer Edmund Morris (You’re Dead, Mate, UK Tour; Macbeth, UK Tour; The Grim, Underbelly Edinburgh) also plays strawberry bootlace loving Shaun, who inherited his family’s undertakers business and lives every day counting down the hours until they can go to the pub.
Louis Davison (Poltergeist, Arcola Theatre; Vikings Valhalla, Netflix; Poldark, BBC) plays superstitious Robert, always late for work on Sundays and once didn’t offer to share his sweets with Shaun (and Shaun has not forgotten about it).
Ex Magic Mike performer Harry Carter plays murderer Jackie Gallagher. Parading around the stage in just his underwear, made me wonder where a murderer would find the time to go to the gym so much. Whilst murderers come in all shapes and sizes, there wasn’t anything particularly scary about this one.
Bizarre!
What feels bizarre is that this 60 minute Edinburgh Fringe Festival play has been split into two acts (Act 1: 30mins, Interval: 15mins, Act 2: 30mins).
Now, I love a short show (and an interval) but it seemed a strange choice to not just play it through like it would have been in Edinburgh.
Unfortunately the momentum that is built in the first half of the show disappears for act 2 and it is difficult to fully reintegrate back in to the story.
Not as horrifying as I would have liked
The Grim is very funny but not as horrifying as I would have liked.
If the role of Jack were played by someone a little grotesque looking and not a blonde haired, blue eyed body builder, I think it could have been more dark and impactful.
★★★
West End Wilma
The Grim is playing at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 6 December 2025.
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