A rapid and jolly romp is the style of the play written and directed by Julia Bolden on the theme of the battle of the sexes. Susannah Bond and William Mitchell perform with great gusto in around 20 or so quick fire scenes.

Venus and Mars are depicted as the first couple but it all seems to go wrong from the time they wake up as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The misunderstandings of well known couples are amusingly played out although with some awful, I presume intentional, puns. The device of using aprons neatly effects the many costume changes to keep the action flowing continuously.

A TV type quiz show called ‘What’s the Point’ interrupts the flow of historical couples. In this segment the audience have to vote in a series of relationship questions.

They close with an ordinary contemporary couple, and I suppose the moral is after thousands of years, men and women still don’t seem to be on the same wavelength. I don’t think we learned anything new but it is enjoyable entertainment.

***   

Venus And Mars And Other Myths Of Mr And Ms

Company: -   Life Experiences Productions

Venue: -    The Spaces on the Mile V 260

Dates: -  7 to 29 August 2009 (not 16,26)

Times: -  13.05 to13.55

Fringe Programme Page: -  p237