“The Sex Fiend”
Written by Stephen Sinclair and Danny Mulheron
Directed for Backstage Theatre, Waiuku, by Kirsty Ward.
Previewed by Carol Seay.
If you’re prudish, stay at home and watch nature programmes on Netflix between May 4th and May 20th.
But if you enjoy racy, rowdy and risqué onstage action that will cause belly-laughs and shocked delight, come to see Waiuku’s popular Backstage Theatre’s latest production “The Sex Fiend”.
Matthew is a SNAG, Sensitive New Age Guy, trying very hard to impress his fellow student and feminist activist Anna. They’re ‘just friends’ but for Matthew, navigating the path to physical connection at a time when traditional approaches for men to make the first move is challenging. What to do?
Matthew agrees to Anna’s all-women feminist poetry group meeting in his flat; he’s eager to show his intellectual and cultural prowess, and he’s no threat to them. He is, after all, Sexual Harassment Officer for the University.
Sadly, Matthew’s cousin Brent has not read ‘Broadsheet’, (the feminist circular of the era), caught up with women’s rights, sexual equality and, frankly, social etiquette, so when he arrives in town and deposits his lusty self in Matthew’s flat, the mayhem begins.
Revolving doors reveal a lesbian, a prostitute, a nervous wreck and a policeman, to name a few. There’s a surprise at every door-opening and the choreography for this scene is superb.
This is a comedy of errors that pushes the boundaries of acceptability in today’s social climate, but brings back memories of the feminist uprising, and the porn fuelled testosterone drive clashing and crashing. It’s hilarious!
Waiuku’s Backstage actors once again show how small-town theatre can rock the aisles; debut director Kirsty Ward has, well, taken this show by the balls. Come and see it, but book soon because this one will be a sell-out.
www.waiukutheatre.com or phone 020 4090 4305
The cast is as follows;
Jason King – Matthew
Peter Williams – Brent
Shannon Gill – Anna
Casey Alexander – Phil
Melissa Charbonneau Nicholson – Eileen
Alan Thompson – Cop
Nicola Jacobs – Desiree
