A comedy in which the audience is expected to play its own part will be staged this week at City Hall Theatre.

Black Box Performance Workshops is presenting "Man Talk; Woman Talk'', a comedy written and directed by Nigerian playwright Ola Rotimi. Bermuda audiences will remember Black Box's production of his play "Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again'' and, promises Patricia Pogson, this play will be just as funny. "When we did `Our Husband' it was an overwhelming success and people were just dying of laughter, so they can come and have another laugh at this play!'' Modelled on a form of African "entertainment through mutual insult'', the aim of the play is to expose behavioural lapses within a community and, at the same time, offer audience relief through laughter, explains Mr. Rotimi. The setting is a college campus where two young students enter into a tribunal to try and settle that eternally and universally vexing question on which of the sexes has been historically, most "sinned against''; after hearing the arguments of judge and counsellor, it is ultimately the audience who have to act as the jury. The form of the play finds a male student complaining about the behaviour of women, then a female student testifying against men, followed by an argument on the validity of both charges. "We seem to be going through a period where men and women speak their minds and women are now demanding respect. We see this every day on the talk shows, and so on, and with this particular production, people will have a chance to make up their own minds on the issues raised,'' says Ms Pogson, who is president of Black Box. Better known now, probably, for her directorial work, Ms Pogson says it has been rewarding to be acting again. "It's been such a wonderful experience working with Ola. What we need now is to have as many people as possible joining Black Box to try and make professional theatre a reality in Bermuda.'' Mr. Rotimi, who now lives in Minnesota and is in Bermuda for about three months, believes that Bermuda Tourism should do more to encourage Bermudian theatre as a form of cultural tourism. "Theatre is a very good way of bringing people together and I believe we need positive encouragement from Government.'' With Patricia Pogson taking on the role of the Counsellor, Andre Simons, who is producer of the "Flow Sunday Poetry Nights at Bourbon Street'' open-mike sessions, plays the Judge. Llewella Rewan (`Cookie') plays the girl and young comedian Mandanja Bailey is the boy. Lesser roles are taken by Keith Caesar as the Orderly and Nigne Swan as the son.

Mr. Rotimi is a leading African contemporary playwright and theatre director who studied in the US at Boston University and Yale, where, in 1966, his project play was named "Graduate Student Play of the Year''. He has received two play commissions from the BBC World Service and his publications include six full-length plays.

"Man Talk; Woman Talk'' takes place at City Hall on Thursday, March 5 through Saturday, March 7 at 8 p.m. Patrons' Night will be on March 5, for which tickets cost $40. General admission is $20, available daily at City Hall Box Office from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

JUDGE AND COUNSELLOR -- Andre Simons (left) and Patricia Pogson in a scene from the Black Box Performance Workshop production of "Man Talk; Woman Talk''.