Anna The Slut & The (Almost) Chosen One

This tongue-in-cheek interpretation of an ancient Sumerian legend sees a geek and a jock encounter a sex goddess in a bar. It’s not just a bad metaphor, Anna – true name Inanna – really is the goddess of sex, and her own history and fatally unsuccessful challenge to her sister Ereshkigal’s rule of the underworld unfolds alongside the main action.

The long-distant past is recounted with narration from a dusty tome and atmospherically lit shadow puppetry, which contrasts well with the banal bar banter of the present, as Greg the geek (Kyle Nunn) celebrates his 21st birthday with just two friends and his first drink.

Michael Burnham is excellent as the narrator and worldly bartender, while Nunn is endearing as the inexperienced nice guy Greg. Naturally, all hell breaks loose as Stephanie Brait’s Anna – 5,000 years old but still stunning – enters the scene, announcing that she’ll be taking someone home with her tonight. The heated contest between Greg and his friend Mason culminates in a brilliantly choreographed pool-cue fight.

By giving this myth a modern twist, writer and director Andrew Hungerford has created a highly entertaining show. It isn’t high art, but it isn’t aspiring to be. Instead, the Cincinnati-based Hunger Warrior Theatre has produced a lively and good-humoured romp that can be appreciated for its easygoing charm.