'Corpse!' builds in laughs as the night, and bodies, add up

What would the theater be without identical twins? Shakespeare sprinkled them generously into his plots, and British farces like "Corpse!" rely on them to keep audiences guessing -- and laughing.

In Steel Beam Theatre's production, Dennis Edwards plays both the crazed, vengeful Evelyn Ferrant and his detached, wealthy twin Rupert Ferrant. He's definitely more fun to watch as Evelyn, a flamboyant actor. With this character, Edwards takes risks that pay off -- a deranged look in the eye, jumping on the couch to prove a point, smirks that seem to hint at which way the plot is careening next.

He plays Rupert as a stiff-upper-lip type, who could use a bit more personality.

Evelyn resents his brother, who has bested him at nearly everything in life, and strikes a deal with a common criminal, Major Powell, to bump Rupert off.

Actor Rob Nowak, as Powell, displays charming stage charisma. He plays Powell as an affable fellow who feels bad about committing a murder but, you know, it will keep him in Irish whiskey.

Director Donna Steele did a good job masterminding the cast and crew through some split-second timing. But the pace of the play dragged in spots, such as one scene in which the characters make and eat Russian blini (crepes).

It took a while for the humor to emerge. For nearly the entire first act (of three), the actors said lines that were funny, but their delivery wasn't quite enough to draw laughs from the Saturday night audience.

By the second act, though, the play and the actors hit a high level of comic tension, and the laughs kept rolling.

They ripple along as one murder takes place, and then another, and -- wait a minute, is that character really dead? The plot of this 1985 comedy thriller by Gerald Moon keeps you guessing.

Despite the slow start, the cast builds the pace, gets going and makes "Corpse!" come alive.

"Corpse!"

2½ stars

Location:

Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles

When:

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets:

$25 adults, $23 seniors and students, $22 groups of 10 or more. (630) 587-8521.

Running time:

Two hours and 30 minutes.

Parking:

Street parking or in city lots.

Rated: Suitable for older children and up.