Maidrid's Bow

In this quirky and amusing fantasy, heterosexual couples have to fear the wrath of a society that believes the sexes should mix only once a year. It's a world inspired by Amazon lore, where women are warriors and men swoon at fine jewelry. Playwright Morgan Ludlow and the cast and crew do a good job of setting up the aura and rules of this world — perhaps a little too good, as much of the show's two and a half hours are taken up explaining all the details of how this society works rather than with the developing relationship between the hotheaded Maidrid and her wistful suitor, Fars. Yet there is still much to enjoy, including beautiful masks and costumes created by Elise Barley and a delightfully hammy performance from Jason Jeremy as local soothsayer Mighty Magora. Even as we titter at the bizarre local customs, such as the mating dance performed the only time the sexes are allowed to intermingle, they also serve as a sly reminder of the bizarreness of some of our own laws about which people can marry and which can't.