Four star

THIS comedy triple bill cleverly extracted laughter while revealing a darker, emotional and thought-provoking underside to an unsuspecting audience.

Each piece worked on two very different levels - they could be taken at face value as entertaining snippets of the lives and situations of some colourful characters, or on a deeper level as writer and director Debbie Sutton intended.

She said laughter can be light and frivolous but can also be used as a weapon to exclude and ridicule - we use it when we are amused and it gets us through the bad times but is also a knee-jerk reaction when confronted by something strange that we don't understand.

In Animal Passions, activist Nadia (Zoe Traves) appears outspoken and confrontational, poking fun at her mother and stepfather, but has been hurt by jibes herself which has left her vulnerable.

In Pick 'n' Mix, we believe sad but likeable character Ernest (Satis Day) is on his annual seaside holiday with his mum until he reveals she has died - and a whole lot more besides - and he has brought her ashes with him.

Mouthpiece has once again triumphed in another polished and professional production.

MC