This black comedy is set in a dysfunctional Argentinian family, where a grandmother struggles to hold together her own immature daughter and her children. But when the grandmother falls ill, mere dysfunctionality turns into absurd but entertaining chaos.

Meme (the daughter)'s oldest child, Verónica, a successful professional woman, provides a social contrast. Her unbalanced brother Marito plays the role of a loveable but unspeakably rude court jester, voicing the thoughts that nobody else dares to think. But the shocking and blatant selfishness on the part of some of the characters makes Marito only seem the most honest of them - to the point that his eventual fate is worthy of sympathy.

While all of the actors put in strong performances, Tamara Kiper as Gabi, Miriam Odorico and Meme and Lautaro Perotti as Marito are particularly convincing.

The play is performed in the original Spanish, and although the surtitles are legible enough, at times the action moves so thick and fast that it is difficult to make out which character has said which line. Perhaps the name of the character before each line of dialogue on screen would help.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Jorge Castano - Doctor. Araceli Dvoskin - Grandmother. Diego Faturas - Damián. Tamara Kiper - Gabi. Inda Lavalle - Verónica. Miriam Odorico - Meme. Lautaro Perotti - Marito. Gonzalo Ruiz - Hernán.

Company Credits: Writer & Director - Claudio Tolcachir. Assistant Director - Macarena Trigo. Lighting Designer - Omar Possemato. Technical Operator - uncredited. Producers - Maxime Seugé & Jonathan Zak. Company - Timbre 4 and Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival's Latin American Season.

END

(c) Colman Higgins 2008

reviewed matinée Sunday 5 October 08 / Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com