one4review | On 09, Aug 2013

****

Under the direction of Hannah Eidinow, it is a triumph of ingenuity to stage Keely Winstone’s very funny sex comedy in the small, intimate venue that is Pleasance This. The cast, also, successfully rise to the challenge in giving the script its full meaty humour.

The action is centred on two ordinary middle class couples. Hilary (Joanna Bending) and James (Martin Miller) live on one side of two adjacent dwellings separated by a thin dividing wall. They have three children and have been together for 20 years. Thus, they are weighed down by domesticity and the passion of their early years together is lacking. On this particular weekend, the children are staying with James’ parents. On the other side are Sonny (Matt Green) and Kes (Jessica Baglow). They are a young couple newly moved in with no children, and they have sex frequently.

Conversations on either side of the wall revolve around sex as each couple speculate about the noises so easily overheard. As their revelations become more intimate, the humour becomes deliciously bawdy. Sonny, for instance, seems to have a thing about sex with older women and deep down he may fantasise about Hilary.

The play has a magnificent climax in the final scene which seems fitting. How it is achieved is somewhat surprising from what has gone before.

Reviewed by Ben

Pleasance Courtyard; 33

31 July to 26 August 2013 (not 12, 19)

14.15 – 15.15

Fringe Programme Page Number: 319