Man Bits, got it’s first laugh on the first word of the play; ‘Penis’ and the laughs didn’t stop for nearly 90 minutes.

The play centers around a widower, Duncan, and his bringing together of several characters to form a male knitting group.

(The audience are taught to finger knit before the show. A clever device that connected audience and play immediately)

There are several storylines, the younger man the older woman, the stay at home dad, both played by Omar Al-Sobky. Omar portrays the shallowness of a beat-boxing horny 20 something just after sex with great physical comedy. The moment where his stay at home dad defends his wife working instead of him adds a balance of gravitas to a script that was so funny it was painful. I and the several men around me at times both squirmed and gave a collective thank you as the play explained exactly why all ‘penis’ or peni’  are all ok – big or small.

This play wanted to bring the unspoken secrets of being a man into the open. Boy did it do that, with the funniest masturbation scene I’ve seen – not that I’ve seen many.

Seeing actors of all different shapes and sizes on stage is a breath of fresh air.

Briegh Fouhy, made up for her stature against Omar Al-Sobky in considerable stage presence and deft underplaying. In her phone conversation with the younger and conversationally lacking lover, she masterfully controlled the scene, in a kind of,  ‘I know I’m smarter than you, but the sex is great, so.. hey,’ kind of way. Fouhy joined Mark Scott for the funniest scene of the Fringe, possibly any Fringe anywhere in any galaxy – the (spoiler alert) ‘counseling of a depressed penis by a vagina therapist.’ Yes, I just said that.

Mark Scott is surely one of the most delightful actors. His attention to the small details, the cups, the cakes, the knitting needles.  His relationship to the other actors onstage, all judged to perfection. A giving actor. You want to like him. His moment when he didn’t want to say, ‘ don’t sit in my dead wife’s chair,’ was a treat.

These three actors are so different in their styles the dynamics were always interesting.

The gallery space was well set up and the set ‘homie,’ modest and endearing. The props were cleverly used – especially Sammie the baby. (complete with full nappy changing scene)

Loved the insight into men stuffing themselves if the feed is free. The Auckland Fringe has brought a new style of theatre and it’s relationship to audience:

Immediate, fun, free and a hell of a lot cheaper. The question is how many more brilliant Writer/ Director’s are there in Auckland we haven’t seen?

Good script, clever direction, excellent cast, guaranteed laugh a minute night.

Criticisms:  Perhaps guilty of a little too much Improv when they knew the audience was in the palm of their hand. The Improv was great, but at 90 minutes the show stretched too long. Just after the brilliant Penis the Musical scene it felt like the play was working to its end. It took a while and I felt the show that had delivered so many highs finished ten minutes too late. In saying that the slo mo tension between ex husband and young lover was bold and brilliantly acted – even if it took us to a different place by the end of the play.

Geoff Allen,   

Director Galatea Theatre, Whitireia Polytechnic Script advisor, Playmarket Finalist.