By Tilly Maxwell

If you want to laugh out loud and then be brought almost to tears then go and see "Lulu" at the OFS this week. The play was completed in 1894 by Frank Wedekind and was never produced in his lifetime because of the disturbing nature of the piece.

Lulu (who goes by different names with each lover) works her way up the ranks of men across Europe leaving murder, suicide, bankruptcy and madness in her wake. Victoria Ross plays this demanding role fantastically well going from "innocent nymph" to "sexual demon" with ease. I expected the play to be more uncomfortable viewing - explicit plays about sex not really being my thing - but I was pleasantly surprised.

The first half is incredibly funny - helped by wonderful performances by Matthew Jones, Edward Behrens and Jack Ream as a few of Lulu's lovers. In this half, even death is amusing - Ben Levine as Schoning dies with champagne in his mouth and the audience laughs, only half realising the meaning behind such a decadent death

The second half brings you back to earth reminding you of the humans beings who have been hiding beneath the debauchery. It shows that as well as it being natural to want to make love, it is also part of human nature to be violent.

This is a play to see because you will laugh and then be made to consider the reality behind the humour. I will not deny that the play is disturbing but it won't give you nightmares and it will make you think about the conflict between our natural desires and society's constraints. Go and see "Lulu" and be inspired to think on that.