Pope Benedict: Bond Villain

Lir Theatre

Abie Philbin Bowman's breakout show was the memorable Jesus: The Guantanamo Years, a politically charged attack on all shades of extremism. With a title such as Pope Benedict: Bond Villain, one might think Philbin Bowman had turned his satirical sights on the eminently amusing pontiff. But the title stretches only as far as one fairly predictable gag, while the rest of the show is filled with meandering thoughts on the parallels between Christianity and capitalism, the pernicious power of money, the vagaries of atheism, possible fraternal bonds between God and Santa Claus, and the sociopolitical versatility of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Unfortunately, Philbin Bowman tackles more big ideas than the show can bear, and the result lacks both coherence and comic consistency. With more work, this material could succeed, but this was one occasion when a young Dublin crowd was definitely hoping for more Pope Benedict.

Runs until Saturday

**