JOHN Lennon thinks he is caught up in an acid trip after deranged fan Mark Chapman empties five bullets into his body in 1980, landing him in Heaven with Elvis and JFK.

He is not a happy chap. He has just lost Yoko, Sean and his recording career, and is about to discover that what would be Heaven for some, is going to be Hell for him.

Elvis, Lennon and JFK, by David Chisnell, is about three 20th century icons, trapped for eternity in their own "exclusive club" in Heaven.

Three big egos battle it out in this entertaining and often funny play, with poignant moments as they reflect on their lives and the people they have left behind.

Led by a strong script, just three actors pull out all the stops to deliver the goods, with Giles Conneely - aka Elvis, or "the fat guy in the jump suit" - offering a particularly noteworthy performance, enjoying many of the punch-lines.

"We don't fornicate, feed nor fart in this place," he tells the psychedelic yellow-suited Lennon (Richard Melchior).

With Elvis and JFK (David Reeves) constantly bickering, the acerbic Lennon cannot resist joining in - especially when JFK reveals a penchant for Beatles songs, but only those written by Paul McCartney.

"Death is a great career move," proclaims JFK later as the trio reflect on the rise in popularity for artists after they die.

"Death sells," agrees Elvis, who can't help bursting into song at intervals.

The characters come into their own more in the livelier second half, which is full of heated debates and peppered with comedy moments - such as Lennon lamenting Yoko's choice of funeral.

"I just got a five-minute fry-up," he says of his cremation.

Updated: 10:52 Thursday, March 31, 2005