There are probably very few circumstances where a woman will sit watching her husband kneeling on a yoga mat with another woman’s bottom thrusting towards his face, whilst discussing the physics of positions in the Kama Sutra, and her reaction be hysterical laughter.
But that’s where we find ourselves, in the company of spunky Aussie yoga instructor Kath (aka Kathryn Haywood) who may still be trying to find the perfect ‘Brangelina’ word- combo for the sex lecture (‘Slex-ture?’) that she is here to deliver.
Clutching three yoga-based self-help manuals from the 1960s, Kath whooshes us through reflections on dating, staying young and, naturally, mastery of basic yoga. And it’s an absolute riot.
Despite the slightly saucy audience participation (which, wonderfully, people are happy to volunteer for, helping Kath manoeuvre into the more awkward poses), Kath has everyone eating out of the palm of her hand as she ‘ohms’ her way through the ‘class’.
A lot of tonight’s humour comes from the wildly old-fashioned and horribly patriarchal advice to be found in the pages of Kath’s books – from exercises to keep one’s bust firm, to a mini-quiz that determines the type of woman you are which results in a large proportion of the UK female population being tagged as smelling like an elephant.
Kath’s expressions as she shares these nuggets of ‘wisdom’ raise gales of laughter and mercifully distract from the painful reminder of how society condemned our mothers and grandmothers to a virtual scrapheap should they fail to meet such bonkers standards of womanhood.
Her ditsy, unfiltered nature brings total authenticity to her delivery, positioning it somewhere between yoga class and, well, not so much stand-up, as stand-on-your-head comedy. Literally. Once senses the audience would have happily got a round of drinks in and let her carry on for another hour.
It feels like it’s all over faster than you can say ‘sun salutation’ but it’s been a whirlwind of fun, with a few affirming truths smuggled in amongst the jollity. And you may never look at a yoga class in the same way again.
For remaining Manchester Fringe shows, visithttp://manchesterfringefestival.co.uk
Yoga and sex (for Women over 40) moves to Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1st – 25th August (not 12th) playing at The Mash House, Just the Attic, 1720 daily. https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Yoga%20and%20Sex…%20for%20Women%20(Over%2040)%22
Reviewer: Lou Steggals
Reviewed: 29th July 2024
North West End UK Rating: