pomme is french for apple is not about cooking, or about the French language.  Let’s just get that out of the way.  It’s also not for the kiddies, so leave them at home.

What it is, is a hysterical 60-minute show in which two women talk about vaginas, sex, and being female.  “Pomme”, in this instance, is a variant of the Jamaican slang for a certain part of a woman’s anatomy.  (That is my professional journalistic explanation.  Urban Dictionary can help you if you need more information.)

Written and performed by Liza Paul and Bahia Watson, the duo perform a series of sketches about various characters with gynecological issues.  If you’re a woman, you’ll relate to approximately 99% of the scenarios, from needing to get in a good crotch scratch on the subway to assorted dating disasters.  (If you’re a man, you might not relate to these scenarios firsthand, but you will still enjoy it.  Laugh and learn.)

And you will laugh a lot.  There were so many laugh-out-loud moments that the entire audience at Theatre Passe Muraille walked away with a good ab workout.  The crowd laughed especially loudly anytime Watson and Paul turned into talking vaginas.  Yes, you read that right.

As a dedicated introvert, I admired their boldness in creating a show with this material (not to mention that I envy their extrovert energy.)  I also really, really appreciate that pomme is french for apple never feels as “kumbaya sister circle” as that other show about vaginas.  In my opinion, it’s the best kind of feminism, where you don’t have to preach to your audience to be effective.  Woman parts are hilarious sometimes, we all know it, so let’s just chill out and laugh about it.

One final thing: this production was a remount from earlier this year, and I can’t say if the show has changed at all, so if anyone has seen both productions, comment away.  (Though I hear there was rum at the old show – rum would probably have made me even happier.)

Details

• pomme is french for apple is playing at Venue 10 – Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Avenue

• Show times: July 09 08:45 PM, July 10 04:30 PM, July 12 12:00 PM, July 13 06:15 PM, July 14 01:45 PM

•  All individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only). Tickets are available online at www.fringetoronto.com, by phone at 416-966-1062, in person at The Randolph Centre for the Arts, 736 Bathurst Street (Advance tickets are $11 – $9 + $2 service charge)

• Value packs are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows

Photo of Bahia Wilson and Liza Paul by SIDDIQUI