The title THE LEGEND OF SNAILS pulled me in. And I love how this play progresses, it’s gradual steady gastropodal movement as Tess and Sophie negotiate their feelings for one another. John Mabey offers the perfect blend of science (eg. “The ways in which snails demonstrate reproductive investment”) and local history from Amsterdam’s City Archive - And the wonderful overlapping of mind and body as Sophie and Tess get to know each other’s worlds. Fine work from an outstanding playwright.

Oh my, the setting is romantic enough, let alone the sweet story which is played out in it! The budding relationship between these two young women is gentle, subtle and as romantic as the streets and canals they roam during their tours of Amsterdam. Something tells me their future is as bright as the jewels in the citys diamond museum. A lovely play!

Set in Amsterdam—city of canals and crossings—John Mabey’s enchanting “The Legend of Snails” offers a masterclass in activating what is left unsaid. Sophie is a scientist who knows snails but not herself, her desires, or her sexuality. On city tours guided by Tess, Sophie slowly begins to bridge the gap between certainty and vulnerability, knowledge and understanding, data and romance. A beautifully realized expression of the complicated identities we live with, “The Legend of Snails” speaks about intimacy and love with innocence and charm. A truly magical play. Highly recommended.