The Wise Wound, Smock Alley

There is excellent comic writing and acting on display. The comedy may not be to everyone taste - you will either laugh out loud, be terrible offended, or a bit of both - but Fitzgerald's style is to sail close to the wind, even crossing over, resulting in a wild, bawdy, irreverent (you could put that in capital letters), politically incorrect, joke stack. Keeping the story - Meg is engaged to fiancee John Booth, but her sisters Amy and Jo aren't so sure of the match, for various reasons, and plot to prevent the union - while keeping the visual (the tavern sign that descends), contextual and verbal gags going is achieved well for the most part. It does run away from them in the final third, probably because of a very comic, elaborate sequence that feels like the course of the story has been run. It hasn't, and after that it feels like there is no where left to go, as it struggles to keep momentum, and a few cuts here and there might help.

There is a satirical edge to it, with a touch of double standards - Jo looks for freedoms, but when faced with slavery the reaction is not initially the same - and in the end it's all about freedoms to be who we are, in a number that looks like some kind of ritual.

When it shines, it does so in colourful glory, the costumes period enough, while sporting a modern edge, a Something Rotten type of visual. The larger space is so much better for these broad strokes, Airplane type humour (in fact one moment reminded me of a scene from that film), and gives ample space for the larger cast, although they do spend their time sitting on seats at the back watching the action taking place in front of them. There are some wonderful performances as well, Aislinn O'Byrne retuning awkwardly to retrieve her hanky, while Jo and Olivia (India Mullen being very quirky) have a quiet moment, is brilliant. There are many other excellent moments of comedy and brilliant timing along the way.

It is termed a 'musical' comedy, although the music is a little scarce; the term 'comedy with songs' may be better (although this could very well be one of those quirky jokes). As it turns out the main opening song is very catchy and hummable (it closes the piece as well) which starts proceedings off spritely, written by the musical director Peter Denton and Fitzgerald, boding well for the remainder of the night, although it wasn't all smooth sailing, down to the fact that the music was pre-recorded (I didn't see any musicians) and no conductor was in sight, making tight timing something of a total necessity.

Fitzgerald does have an immense capacity and talent for writing comedy and gags, with that great throwaway style. This has a more polished feel than before. It isn't Shakespeare, but then it's not meant to be; more Mel Brooks or Father Ted, even Kimmy Schmidt. It will make you laugh out loud, and at times will evoke the inner thought of  'is that happening!', but if you are offended by cutting and close to the wind comedy, it may not be for you. 

What I did see, happily, was a committed cast, delivering a visually colourful production in a solid way, and really enjoying themselves a lot. Also, while this may not be strictly a musical comedy, the possibility of a fully fledged musical comedy is something, I think, may well come to pass; the couple of songs (one of which is still in my head) and the quality of the comedy, points well to this.