Watching the latest comedy from Cabbage Productions, I found myself thinking quite carefully about where my local library actually is, having not stepped foot inside it since moving to the area more than a decade ago. That’s perhaps exactly the point that Librarians: A Very Serious Comedy is trying to make. These once-vital community institutions increasingly struggle to get people through the doors, and that provides the foundation for this entertaining new farce.
From co-writers Matthew Howell and Jack Michael Stacey, we find ourselves in a near-perfect situational comedy set-up. Plumstanton Library is not only devoid of customers, but also falling apart around the ears of its small and dedicated staff, and decisions as trivial as which packet of biscuits to open require a committee vote. It is a workplace hanging on by a thread.
When the head librarian dies in circumstances that may not be entirely straightforward, an unexpected vacancy opens up. The arrival of a replacement from London immediately disrupts the established order, creating friction among the existing staff and setting in motion a conspiracy that gradually unfolds over the course of the hour.
The plot is cleverly constructed and keeps the audience guessing about where events might lead next. The comedy leans heavily into farce and, for the most part, it works well. There is a pleasing sense of escalating chaos as misunderstandings pile upon secrets and the staff become increasingly desperate to keep everything under control.
Not every joke lands. Some references feel a little dated, with the Jackie Weaver gag standing out as one that already feels past its sell-by date. A handful of punchlines also feel too obvious for a company that has demonstrated greater inventiveness elsewhere. Yet those flatter moments are balanced by some genuinely sharp comic writing, with several sequences provoking hearty laughs from the audience.
The cast maintain an impressive level of energy throughout and wisely approach the material with complete sincerity. Librarians may carry the subtitle A Very Serious Comedy, but that seriousness is key to its success. The performers never chase the laughs, instead treating the escalating absurdity as entirely believable. It is this commitment to the reality of the situation that allows the stronger comic moments to land.
Beneath the farce, there is also a thoughtful message about the value of community spaces and the gradual erosion of public institutions. The play never allows those themes to overwhelm the comedy, but they provide some welcome substance beneath the chaos. Plumstanton Library becomes more than just a setting. It represents countless places that quietly serve their communities while fighting to justify their existence.
Cabbage Productions clearly understands the mechanics of farce, and the cast work hard to bring the increasingly absurd situation to life. Librarians: A Very Serious Comedy may not be the laugh-a-minute triumph its premise suggests, but beneath the farce lies a thoughtful reminder of why these community spaces still matter. Like the library at its centre, Librarians: A Very Serious Comedy survives on charm, determination and more than a little chaos, so if you’re browsing the Fringe programme this year, this is one title still worth checking out.
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