Absurd history makes for wacky comedy in The Great Emu War at the Terris Theatre

The Terris Theatre in Chester has been invaded by a mob of emus.

More accurately, a couple of madcap Australian soldiers do the invading, as they prey on the homeland's anthropomorphized national birds thought to be damaging crops, in a wacky stage depiction of one of history's most preposterous military deployments -- the Emu War of 1932 .

In 2017 fellow Australians Cal Silberstein and Paul Hodge began collaborating on writing a book and then musical of that story from the point of view of the emus. This fall their "The Great Emu War" became the latest of a long tradition of musicals brought to the Terris 200-seat theatre, an intimate venue that has been dedicated to developing and presenting new musicals in concert with the Goodspeed’s main stage in East Haddam, since 1984.

Under the direction and choreography of Amy Anders Corcoran, the wackiness of the account never wanes. The musical melodrama would likely get an audience to hiss at the villianous Aussies and cheer on the flightless birds, that is, if they weren't laughing so hard through scene after scene of the 90 minute production with no intermission.

Narrator (aka The Bush Bard) Laraisha Dievelyn Dionne keeps the audience on track amidst the action by deftly sharing historical facts and emu traits - in rhymed couplets no less. Enoch (Jeremy Davis) depicts a Dad-bird, single-wingedly raising rebellious Edith (Claire Saunders) with tenderness, understanding, and good humor. ( Fact: male emus are solely responsible for raising their young, from incubating the eggs to protecting and teaching the chicks after they hatch!)

Meanwhile Edith ambles about in graceful avian fashion, yearning to leave the nest and take up with Ethan (Ethan Peterson). Together, the emu coming-of-agers perform a quirky mating ritual that is a booming delight.

On the prowl for the enemy emus, Major Meredith (Taylor Matthew) all but steals the greatest hilarity of the reconnaissance with his fast talking and even more speedily sung rationale of the pursuit. Accentuating the end of his outburst with a wide-mouthed scream, the audience can almost see his tonsils vibrating. His sidekick McMurray (Morgan Cowling) follows him about like a hapless Sancho Panza, comically aping his hunting style, as misguided as the entire expedition.

In reality, the 45 day long war was an unsuccessful military operation. The emus are credited with officially "winning" the attempted siege by outmaneuvering the military, scattering into small groups, and causing the machine guns to jam, resulting in a low kill count and a quick withdrawal of the troops. In this song and dance version the writers unabashedly call "emusing," the flightless birds restage the victory in a tongue-in-cheek killing of their enemy with laughter.

“The Great Emu War” by Cal Silberstein and Paul Hodge runs through Oct. 26 at the Terris Theatre, 33 North Main St., Chester. The remaining performance is Sunday at 2 p.m. $25-$41. goodspeed.org.