Edinburgh 2002

Fringe

Rose in a Garden of Weeds
Gateway Theatre

Munira Mirza

Rose is a sweet-natured and homely girl whose life revolves around attending to her invalid father, with the pleasures of a 'cup of tea and a wagon wheel' to punctuate her day.

In this humdrum existence, she discovers her father's porn magazine, and comes up with a plan to make a bit of extra money by persuading her friend May to set up a phone sex line with her called 'Whispers'. With no experience of sex but plenty of imagination, the girls provide a service for dozens of men who just want to be listened to. In their safe surroundings and with 'Daddy George' sound asleep, they recreate new identities for themselves, at one time sex kittens; other times, kidnapped Arabian princesses, and so on.

The female characters see themselves as 'nurses' to the lonely pathetic men out there in the real world. They are generous, rather than desperate, adventurous rather than sheltered. However, when May decides to take the project to a new level by dating one of their callers, Rose becomes infuriated. Why go out into the real world and have a disastrous relationship, when you can live out a virtual fantasy right at home?

The sad conclusion of the play tends to agree with Rose. May's date acts in less than a gentlemanly manner and so she decides to continue with the phone sex line rather than pursue a relationship in the real world. That this is seen as a happy ending is somewhat disturbing and depressing. There doesn't seem to be any suggestion that men could actually be more exciting and rewarding in the real world. Rather, Rose is clear that fulfilment is much easier when it is possible to hang up at any time. A sex life without physical contact or risk - but shouldn't each rose have its thorn?

Until 13 August.