The Condos, four American singing dentists, are here on a tour to sell their book, Hey Get A Life, which offers a philosophy handed down by their guru R. Ken Pouncy. He was captured in Vietnam, and the enemy forced sharp stakes up his rectum; but he used the pain to get in some intense meditation, so that's all right.
One of the Condos is indisposed, and his place is taken by Irish cousin Bernard. The other three - Donald, Chastity and Rhapsody - base songs on the chapters in their book, and get straight into musical uplift with You're Very Sick, Get Better Quick. Their drill is mostly one front singer and a trio as backing group; Bernard is mostly with the latter. He has had problems, is just out of hospital, and resents Donald's sarcastic comments.
Song follows song: These are Lies; Obsession (I'm Not Happy with my Body) and others. An effort is made to deny Bernard his big number, but with audience support - sing, Bernard, sing! - he gives his all to Get Naked, Naked, Naked. Something happens during the interval, after which he is heard to mutter to Donald; I hate you . . . I'm gonna get you . . . you're gonna die . . . and more.
It's all downhill for the Condos from there. Donald is soon a nervous wreck, the liberated women raise the level of earlier sexual innuendo to flagrant salaciousness, and book sales are clearly off. It ends in jubilant chaos. Jonathan Kyd is writer and director, and Simon Chamberlain the composer. Book and songs are brilliant.
They are royally served by Lyn Fullerton, Jenny Maher, Jimmy O'Byrne and Dessie Gallagher as the hapless quartet. This witty, irreverent, satirical show had me convulsed with laughter from start to finish; that's entertainment.
Runs until April 1st. Booking: 01-6795720