THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ALMOST EVERYBODY The Company of Muses Bakehouse Theatre Until 18 Feb 2011 Review by Jamie Wright A man with a broom sweeps a bare stage; in a fit of inspiration, he realises he has the power ofimagination and creates a man and a woman who develop ideas of their own. Eventually, the sweeper’sown mind turns against him and he is challenged by the personifications of his deeper fears and flaws. Under the direction of Amanda Portus, the (mostly) young cast do a good job of interpreting an adaptedversion of David Campton’s absurdist script and the often difficult task of bringing to life characters whoare more concept than person. Toby Rice’s minimal set, well-lit by Stephen Dean and backed by cleverprojection courtesy of Christopher Seglins, effectively frames the action, giving it a surreal overall feel. While not a particularly original concept by today’s standards – the play is over forty years old – thereare some intriguing aspects to the work; however, it feels a bit disjointed and neither packs a realthought-provoking punch nor effectively builds dramatic tension. The performances, while good, aren’tenough to transcend this to allow it to have significant impact. Despite not quite reaching any dizzying heights, it is encouraging to see an Adelaide company with ayouth focus take on an unconventional, challenging work. Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)