Who Killed the Counsellor

The trouble with writing Fringe-format plays is that they still have to have a modicum of believability – even if they’re black comedies – and despite an earnest attempt by some of the actors to breathe some form into this piece about a dysfunctional family of four whose family counsellor has been killed, it just never materialises.

When do you try a family of four for the crime of murder with only a sardonic judge doing the cross examination and sentencing? When does a middle-aged musician father/husband overtly flirt with a family counsellor during a session? When does a 17 and a half year old play with toys and draw childish pictures of stick figures at the behest of a counsellor, only to moments later return to try to seduce her?

Bland direction of a thin script supported by mediocre lighting design is very hard to rescue, despite a particularly solid performance by Laura Carr as the titular counsellor, and some sympathetic caricatures by Caroline Burns Cook and Neil Cole as the parents.

– Jason B Standing