Comedy duo Ruby Gaytime (Sarah Reuben and George Gayler) joins forces with fellow comedians and performers Jimmy James Eaton and Jessamea St. James to serve up several courses of incisive social commentary and an absurd look at mortality in their vivacious new show Death Party.

Performed by Reuben, Eaton and James, the show features a series of short scenes exploring the ways in which different cultures cope with death. The central skit, set in a not-so-distant future, follows the planning and execution (pun intended) of the “death party” of Mary (James), a 30-year-old in her prime, and her two friends (Reuben and Eaton). Disgusted by the ‘unnecessary’ preservation of life, society has come to value youth above all else, and people are encouraged to commit suicide before ageing settles in.

Scattered throughout the play are short, increasingly witty scenes that examine death in different cultures, including a peek at the exaggerated bravado of the Viking heaven, Valhalla, and real soundbites of children and teenagers sharing their innocent perspective on what it means to die.

Many scenes also point out the farcical nature of the obsession with youth, often elevating this concept to the point of comical artistry. Essentially, each sketch tells a story of a character trying to find the ideal in their death and thus, neglecting the treasure of life.

Reuben and Gayler evidently have keen satirical minds, and are gifted with the ability to laugh at humanity’s pitfalls. Reuben  gives a strong performance, jumping smoothly between a grief-stricken granddaughter and a leader of a suicide cult, among many others. Combined with exaggerated extravagance of Eaton and the straight and rational James, Reuben and Gayler have crafted a well balanced production.

Death Party is much more than an empty collection of throw-away sketches. The piece rises high above the usual fare of sketch comedy as it presents a vivid pastiche of modern culture that will hit close to home for many who have lost a loved one. Although it occasionally strays from its target with trivial jokes about current affairs, it is a consistently inventive combination of humanity’s grief and ridiculousness.

Death Party is playing in the Parlour Room at the Fringe Hub, North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne from 18-25 September at 6.45pm. For more information or to book tickets, please visit the Melbourne Fringe website or call the ticketing team on 9660 9666.