Hayley May Muirhead and Molly Dooner under the company name of Pink Mango Comedy, bring a show that is zany, bizzare, upbeat and sexually empowering for any females watching. Pink Mango does 'The Birth of Venus' saw two aliens from the planet Venus after being guided by their Goddess Aphrodite in their mission to lose their virginity on planet Earth. What emerged was an experience that was part sexual discovery, clowning comedy and absurdist performance that was reminiscent of Ruby Wax's brash and honest comedy sketches in the 1980s.
An experience that was part sexual discovery, empowerment, clowning comedy and absurdist performance
From the get go, Muirhead and Dooner captured our attention with their raw, positive attitude and sensual physicality. Dressed in nothing but purple leotards and tights with sparkly and dynamic drag inspired makeup, they challenged our perceptions on how we may see other life forms. Using simple costume additions such as jackets, comedy moustaches, glasses and more, we also got to meet lots of different characters aiding the two aliens on their journey. These transitions were done with such ease and fun that we did not want the show to stop, plus I think having a transition music track of Donna Summer's classic Hot Stuff as they changed their clothes added to the fun party atmosphere that had already been created. Highlights included a Russian sex worker who introduced the idea of orgasms (in ways that cannot be described here) to one alien, then very quickly after that, we got to see the porn industry sent up in the best possible way using the stereotype of the dodgy 'stuck in the 70s' style male who comically demonstrated the basic positions used in porn. This was done in such a way that was physically hilarious and clown-like, with elements of the Carry On film franchise and the attitude of French and Saunders.
But what makes this show special beyond the well thought out and linked sketches is the close knit commeradery between Muirhead and Dooner. The clearly evident trust between them is stunning to watch as they were not afraid to play with different techniques and take them further than a stereotypical comedy show like this would normally do. I say this in the sense of an extremely well written and rounded storyline; vibrant characters; not being afraid to push their sensual physicality and being comfortable in their own bodies which shone on stage. They were also bold enough to encourage physical audience interaction without breaking social distancing rules at the time of writing and had a rather fun way of incorporating a flying seagull puppet!
Pink Mango does 'The Birth of Venus' was an experience that no one will ever forget in the best possible way.
