a stark insight into female sexual desire.
The comedian performing on the night was Andrew Maxwell, who immediately put the audience at ease in a typically Irish way; by making fun of himself. Proclaiming that he couldn’t read until he turned twelve, he began to read the script for the first time. His comic timing was impeccable and his own surprise at some of the content only added to the audience’s reaction to the author’s stories about her past relationships and sexual fantasies.
The use of a famous comedian is not, as it could be assumed, a crutch to carry a script written by an unknown author. It is a frank, uncensored portrayal of this woman’s understanding of her own sexuality, and of the stigma surrounding women openly discussing their sex lives. This is particularly effective in a scene discussing the different attitudes surrounding female and male masturbation. The script stands on its own, and gains depth and agency as it is read out.
The honesty of the author could be undermined by her decision to remain anonymous, yet she justifies her reason for making this decision throughout the script. The audience is made aware of the fact that Maxwell cannot relate to a lot of the content through his facial expressions and his use of body language. He adds his own humour, but ultimately lets the script speak for itself.
Funny, brutally real and in tune with the female experience in the contemporary world, and with a different comedian every night, Manwatching is fresh, exciting and distinct.
