Dolly is one of a suite of three plays that former ABC programmer Harris Smart has written and produced for the 2015 Melbourne Fringe Festival.

It is a musical comedy transporting Nabokov’s Lolita to a post-apocalyptic world where all the men have been wiped out by a virus. This highly original concept is the strong point of this production, namely an exploration of the shift that occurs when Humbert’s crimes are committed by a woman against a girl. Although it’s hard to imagine how women would behave in a world without men, Smart’s predictions (sperm banks and universal lesbianism) seem like casual hypotheticals and could be construed as offensive.

The decision to stage this as a musical comedy is also dubious. Though the original songs by Cathy Dobson are upbeat and catchy, they’re more like musical interludes and don’t do much to progress the plot. They seem out of place in this production, or at least unnecessary. Likewise, the drawn-out physical comedy of the doctor’s death scene is a questionable inclusion. It’s hard to imagine how the story of Lolita can be translated tastefully into this genre.

However, the performances are energetic and the singing is on key. In particular, Tiana Pisano (as Dolly) does a very good job. Nonetheless, it is difficult to recommend this production: in short, it is distasteful.

Dolly is at the Owl and Cat Theatre, 34 Swan Street, Richmond from 22nd to 27th of September. Tickets $25, $20, $15 (Tuesday).