The Beckett Theatre at the Malthouse was packed to the rafters for Shaun Parker's Blue Love last weekend.

This cheeky take on heterosexual love has had a life of it's own since premiering in 2005 at the Sydney Opera House. But if Melbourne audiences felt slighted at being last in line (how much do we hate playing second fiddle to Sydney?), they didn't show it.

An ingenious icebreaker saw the two protagonists, Glen and Rhonda, handing out cans of VB and cups of popcorn before the show proper started, which got a great laugh.

From then on, the 'happy couple' set about dismantling their relationship through a selection of home movies and gesturally-informed dance sequences. There was also classical song - performed in stunning counter tenor by Parker - and a pop music mash-up.

Blue Love defies genre classification. It's obviously dance inspired, but even the choreographed sequences are more concerned with amplifying everyday gesture and attitude than with synthesizing dance moves.

Similarly, the film and acting elements challenge our expectations. The one constant throughout is the humour. Parker and his co-star, Veronica Neave, never let their play become too serious.

When Rhonda produces a handgun and aims it at her husband, it is as the emotional climax to a silly tumbling sequence. It's tragic, but hilarious as well. And that's the key to Parker's brilliance.

I adored Blue Love, but if you prefer your contemporary dance to be less irreverent, you probably won't.

Blue Love
Devised by: Shaun Parker
Starring: Shaun Parker and Veronica Neave

by DAREN POPE

Malthouse Theatre
Until June 28
www.malthousetheatre.com.au