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It's fascinating to watch the actors wriggle out of their clothes, put on fake bellies and wigs, then waltz out completely changed. In the second duet, Mr. [Miguel Faustmann] flounces in as Barrie, a gay man with goldilocks curls dressed in a tight white top - complete with nipples poking out - skinny jeans and pointy shoes. Although stereotypical, it's funny to see the actor turn up the gay with his pitchy speech, limp-wristed gesticulation, and frantic leg-swinging. As it stands, his performance is a few snaps in z- formation short of rainbows and unicorns.

Although their back-and-forth, getting-to-know-you revelations are entertaining, nothing quite beats the moment of genius starring [Wendy]'s ringtone. If you're familiar with Gossip Girl, let me put it this way: it's even more fabulous and unexpected than Dorota's Blackberry breaking out into "I'm a Slave 4 U" by Britney Spears.

THEATER REVIEW

Duets

Presented by Repertory Philippines

Directed by Ana Abad-Santos

Jan. 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. with 3:30 p.m. matinees on Jan. 23, 24, 30 and 31

Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Roxas cor. Legazpi St., Makati City

After 90 plays together, 20 of which cast them either as spouses or lovers, Joy Virata and Miguel Faustmann have developed an onstage chemistry as comfortable as granny panties and bacon briefs.

In Duets, a romantic comedy written by Peter Quilter, the two veterans get to explore love and its many faces in a series of four endearingly awkward vignettes. The playful bantering is paced perfectly and Mr. Faustmann, in particular, assumes the accents and physicality required by his characters with chameleon-like ease.

The play opens with a blind date between strait-laced Wendy, a schoolmarmish lady who occasionally indulges in vulgar language and kink, and Jon, a nervous man who constantly futzes with his hair and puts his foot in his mouth.

Although their back-and-forth, getting-to-know-you revelations are entertaining, nothing quite beats the moment of genius starring Wendy's ringtone. If you're familiar with Gossip Girl, let me put it this way: it's even more fabulous and unexpected than Dorota's Blackberry breaking out into "I'm a Slave 4 U" by Britney Spears.

As Quilter specified, the two actors transform themselves right in front of the audience. The wings of the theater, usually hidden from view, are made visible and we get to see the flurry of action that takes place between scenes.

It's fascinating to watch the actors wriggle out of their clothes, put on fake bellies and wigs, then waltz out completely changed. In the second duet, Mr. Faustmann flounces in as Barrie, a gay man with goldilocks curls dressed in a tight white top - complete with nipples poking out - skinny jeans and pointy shoes. Although stereotypical, it's funny to see the actor turn up the gay with his pitchy speech, limp-wristed gesticulation, and frantic leg-swinging. As it stands, his performance is a few snaps in z- formation short of rainbows and unicorns.

Ms. Virata's Janet, on the other hand, isn't as entertaining to watch through no fault of her own. It is quite impossible for her character, a no-nonsense dame who has better things to do than go man-hunting, to compete with Barrie's hot mess and fierceness.

It becomes obvious that Quilter strove for fairness in his material: in the third duet, Ms. Virata has more to work with as Shelley, a lush on vacation with her soon-to-be ex-husband. She totters and lists like the Leaning Tower of Pisa caught in gale-force winds while Mr. Faustmann's Bobby is limited to grousing - a role reversal of sorts from the previous act.

In the fourth and final vignette, Ms. Virata and Mr. Faustmann play siblings Angela and Toby: she, a petulant bridezilla contending with fickle weather and wardrobe malfunctions; and he, the exasperated yet loving older brother who manages to make things better and worse at the same time.

Duets is a joy to watch. Witty dialogue, physical comedy and unexpected details command your attention for about two hours. Extra kudos must be given to Mr. Faustmann who injured himself in the second act. Despite being bothered by a bum leg, he soldiered on and delivered his punch lines with vigor. Love is literally funny in this Quilter play and the two veteran actors entrusted with his words bounce off each other like an old married couple, until dysfunction do they part.