Never has the grim reaper been so gloriously glittery than in this Delightfully Dark one man cabaret style show. Monsieur Death positively ripples with dark sparkle and an almost glitterball-esque style scythe. Complete with cape and twirly moustache and an intense gaze, he fascinates us and makes us chuckle in equal measure. As he begins his opening song ‘a show about death’ with a singing voice reminiscent of Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys, he tells us exactly what we need to know about what to expect: dark humour with a twinkle in his eye.

Victor Von Plume, as he introduces himself to us, holds us all with a confident ease, interacting with some, asking questions, and getting an unsuspecting member of the audience up and involved with hilarious results. This is part cabaret, part stand up, part one man show which asks some questions we’ve not heard before: are the clothes you die in the ones you end up having to wear when you are a ghost? And if that’s for eternity then perhaps we should pay more attention to our clothing choices in the future?

Death is one of those taboo subjects that even though it happens to each of us, we don’t want to talk about it, as if we pretend it’s not there even though it is one of life’s rare complete certainties. Here is Victor, opening that sacred box and not only looking inside, but finding the humour in what most people are afraid of.

The comedy and the observations are fresh and funny, and he has a wonderful easy way with an audience helping us to know we are in safe hands. No life and death subject is out of bounds and they are handled with gentle care as well as hilarity. ‘So many ways to die’ is another original song that encapsulates that encouragement to laugh out loud and what is really funny at the same time as being scary.

Fresh, funny and original songs are another bonus of this show which is indeed Delightfully Dark, but there’s more to this than meets the eye: this is a show about what it means to be alive, of embracing all the absurdity of a finite existence. What about if life is about moments, ambitions, dreams, and it’s “not the perfect ones we chased, but the imperfect ones we lived”. Curiously, this ‘show about death’ might be the most life affirming show you are likely to find this Fringe.

The Lantern Theatre, 28 May 2025
Delightfully Dark runs until 31 May 2025
Photo credit: Victor Von Plume