What would you do if you found yourself pregnant and the father was either God, the Devil, or a geek from school called Gary? Oliver Lansley takes the theory of Immaculate Conception to its natural comic conclusion in this modern-day farce which sees Mia - a likable 20-something with an unusual job - on the brink of giving birth, despite not having had sex for eleven and a half months.
With a chain of prospective fathers ready to march through a flimsy door and claim parentage, a squishy sofa and plenty of cups of tea, it’s as if the Second Coming has emerged into the world of a TV sitcom. A deliberately amateurish Greek Chorus adds a self conscious kind of theatricality, but it’s Lansley’s feeling for comic set-ups and pay-offs that leads to some of the best moments.
Resident company and associate producers Giant Olive are specialists in providing this kind of unapologetic entertainment and any real exploration of motherhood and choice is glossed over in favour of less serious concerns. It’s a limited approach, but one fuelled by the infectious enthusiasm of all concerned. While some of the performances stray into pantomime territory, Natalie Jones’s Mia is wonderfully deadpan, stomping about in her specially fitted playsuit and knee-high boots. Russell Anthony’s Gabriel, a messenger of God dressed for a day at the office, also adds a splash of pathos to the frivolity.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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