Is This About Sex?
I went to a play last week. In the Dublin Theatre Festival.
Is This About Sex?
Not really. But not not really either.
Using sexual manners and sexual identity the relationships between 2 couples, plus their playing away from home editions, are explored.
Written by Christian O’Reilly it’s a comedy, and I and the audience laughed a lot. Despite the two main male characters being very self-centered, they and the two main female characters are all very likeable, which makes for a fun ride without too much tension.
A Rough Magic production the play is beautifully produced and nicely paced.
As well as being very funny Is This About Sex? is honest, disarming, brash, bawdy, and tender. It’s an Irish play in 2007 though so the explorations of sexuality and sexual mores would be unremarkable in London or San Francisco of today.
Following the central character, Daniel, I was put in mind of Nick Hornby’s book How to Be Good where the concept of being too good was explored. And like in that novel it’s this credibility of how far a virtue, in this case generosity, can go that the whole story hangs on.
Is This About Sex? is on at the Pavillion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire and runs until Oct 13 showing at 8.00pm nightly and also at 3.00pm on Oct 13. It’s getting on for 2 hours long so go to the jax beforehand as there is no break. Admission is €20 - €27 and can be booked online.
It should be said though that you won’t be as lucky as we were last Tuesday, as we were treated to a very enjoyable Question & Answer session with the director and writer.
How does it start? A man walks into a shop and asks to buy women’s underwear. For himself.
The Dublin Theatre Festival is celebrating its 50th year and I wish I had a load more money.
Other Reviews:
• The List “A compelling exploration of gender and identity”
• Edinburgh Guide “A neat wee number”
• Culture Vulture “A very enjoyable evening out”
• British Theatre Guide “Great production with some very good performances”
• RTE “Enough laughs to make for an enjoyable evening”
Disclosure: The writer is a close personal friend of mine for many years including some years where we shared a house.
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