Nissim wants Bruno. Bruno loves Audrey. Audrey hates Ingrid. Ingrid needs Audrey. A comedy of bad manners about the pursuit of love, the need to possess or destroy and the impossibility of finding reasonably priced accommodation in New York City. Imagine Will and Grace in The Lord of the Flies…and you might be getting close.

Christmas on Mars won Harry Kondoleon the George Oppenheimer/Newsday Playwriting Award. His Zero Positive, originally produced at New York Shakespeare Festival's Public Theater, also received its British premiere at the Finborough Theatre in 1995. He was twice awarded an OBIE – for Most Promising Playwright in 1983 (sharing the award with Tina Howe and David Mamet), and for The House Guests in 1993. Harry Kondoleon died in 1994 at the age of 39.

Directed by Joss Bennathan whose credits include The Country Wife (The Bridewell – Time Out Critics Choice) and The Alchemist (Riverside Studios – one of The Independent's Top 5 Plays in London) for his own company, Present Moment, and the British premiere of John Guare’s Landscape of the Body (Southwark Playhouse). His most recent London production was the British premiere of Ursula Rani Sarma’s Blue (Latchmere Theatre) and was again one of The Independent's Top 5 Plays in London.

The Press on Christmas on Mars
“A hearty welcome back to the Finborough Theatre in Earl’s Court, closed since the end of last summer for refurbishment." Mark Shenton, BBC London

"The new Finborough season promises some treats" Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard Metro Life

“The Finborough gives pub theatre a good name. The theatre maintains its unfussy intimacy.Kondoleons bitchy repartee in style Friends, Will and Grace and Frasier rolled into one. Entertainingly screwy. Bizarrely enjoyable” Madeleine North, Time Out

“This is a very funny play, especially in the first act, with much of the humour drawn inexorably to Andy Spiegel's wonderfully camp Nissim. The other actors are great too, and make the most of their strongly drawn characters. The plot effortlessly sails through stormy twists, turns and devastating revelations whilst keeping the audience entranced within this compelling world.This is a fine production and very entertaining.” Julia Hickman, Theatreworld Internet Magazine

“Kondoleon's classic turns out to be a real cracker for the Finborough. It is quite difficult as to which to praise the more, the complete make-over of the Finborough Arms pub, now called simple The Finborough, or the play with which the Finborough Theatre has chosen to open its new season. Christmas on Mars, by Harry Kondoleon, is a glorious play. It is hysterically funny and well wrought. Some howlingly funny moments. To repeat just one of them would be unfair as each comes like a bolt from the blue and has a cracking effect on the audience. The cast are equally marvellous.In addition, it has been expertly directed.The evening is one that must not be missed. I do warn, however, that tickets might be hard to come by. Apart from the obvious attractions of the new pub bar, which used to be one of the grottiest pub theatres in London, the newly upholstered seating, and the talents of the cast, word of mouth is galloping ahead.I have been told about the play by several people since its opening, and had to agree with them that the evening is something special. Go. You'll thank me for the tip.” Paul Nelson, indielondon.co.uk

“Old Finborough fans will wonder if theyve wandered into the wrong pub, now its reopened as a chic bar and nightclub. Pink lighting, sleek unisex loos and a proper restaurant await downstairs, while the theatre upstairs now has decent seating, new windows and better backstage facilities. Its all very impressive. Joan Walkers Ingrid and Andy Spiegels drama queen Nissim are enjoyably sparky.” Helen Chappell, What's On in London

“People are beginning to expect a lot from director Joss Bennathan and in this production, at the refurbished Finborough Theatre, he does not let anyone down.”
Victoria Worsley, The Stage