Fruity follies

44 Sex Acts in One Week (Club House Productions)

Brisbane Powerhouse, Underground Theatre

May 16 – 26

Forget the “Kama Sutra” or “The Joy of Sex” … because it’s really all about “The 44 Sex Acts that will Change Your Life”, the coffee table book at the centre of David Finnigan’s “44 Sex Acts in One Week”. The collection of role play and BDSM type suggestions across the full spectrum of kink is the work of former real estate agent, now ‘problematic sex genius’, Malaine Gutierrez (Rebecca Massey aka Beverly from HR in ABC’s “Utopia”), the high-energy sex coach, educator and influencer currently on a promotional tour. It is not Malaine at the centre of the Brisbane Comedy Festival show’s story, however, but social conscience princess and Shesquad writer Celina (Amber McMahon), who agrees to pen a feature article on the book as part of her desperate plan to come up with some much-needed rent money in order to avoid eviction.

With her chronicle of the book’s promises sure to generate the clicks needed for revenue, Celina is soon forced into seeking the assistance of awkward office mailboy and animal activist Alab (Aaron Tsindos) to complete the project. It’s a tale as old as time… girl meets boy. Girl hates boy. Girl f**ks boy 44 times. World collapses. And along the way, the slippery, subversive take on your classic radio play that is “44 Sex Acts in One Week” delivers lots of naughty hilarity.

Massey is a standout as ‘goddess’ Malaine Gutierrez and also, more so, ice-cold SheSquad blog editor Irene Gamerman, hard core in her constant state of hyperbole and cuttingly funny in her comically well-timed insults to and about others. McMahon, too, uses comic timing to great effect, with much humour coming from a pace and/or volume of delivery that sets her lines above the unfold of action around her. Nancy Dennis, meanwhile, jumps in and out of distinct support roles with ease in ready showcase of her versatility, especially within a singular multiple partner sex act scene.

Meanwhile, Tsindos gives Alab some wise commentary for our consideration as the couple’s detailed discussion of their real likes and turn-ons, moves beyond contemplation of where the real power may lie in submission and surrender, to how this may also be apparent in real-life relationships. His contemplative narration about how the fragmented memory of a hookup can resonate in world-changing ways, hints at the farcical nature of the story’s ultimate world-collapse through an almost voice-of-reason-veneer, making his character as intriguing as he is enigmatic.

While radio-play-like sound effects add another dimension to the creativity of the experience, these can serve as more of a distraction at times, given the dynamism of the performances on show. Similarly, there’s a lot more going on than their needs to be plot wise as the sex act cataloguing storyline moves the audience towards the apocalyptic transition of its ending. In amongst the cresendoing urgency of its chaos, however, there is some empowering messaging about switching on to our primal selves and demanding what we want in real show of power.

As the title suggests, things do get primitive as the show’s hilarious actors go down on their microphones and melons. It’s quite naughty and very funny in its folly, not only through the fruit (and its associated sonic possibilities), but also the combined efforts of Composer and Music Director Steve Toulmin and Lighting and Set Designer Trent Suidgeest in creating an increasingly hyperreal aesthetic as the audience in montaged through the couple’s completion of many of the 44 acts.

While it might be as human as breathing (in all of its guises), the sex at the centre of the four hander’s premise makes the show a provocative undertaking. It may be witty in its commentaries on contemporary dating culture, but it is also very forthright in its detail, and even with no nudity and only simulated fruit sex, it is certainly not for the easily offended… or for Michael Bolton fans! For those willing to give themselves over to the pleasure of its sex positive surrender, however, there is much laughter to be had in its 80-minute duration.