The Fringe is the place to take your mind to places it might not normally go. In this case it is to the life of a sex worker who specialises in being a dominatrix, performing all manner of sexually gratifying acts for men, some of which you might find a little difficult to believe, but all of which are absolutely true. I mean do you realise there are men who will pay to see women in their underwear taking money out of their cashpoint?
This might sound a bit heavy for an afternoon show but it is delivered by Lane with tremendous gusto and a certain kind of showbiz New York wit. There can’t be many stand ups who do this kind of work and that gives the show its USP and also its cutting edge. The fact she is trained in musical theatre also comes in useful for delivering some passages of the show in song. She is an excellent performer who really projects the material.
This isn’t a show for the faint of heart who’d rather not know how weird some men are, but beyond the ick factor – and there are plenty of ick factors, not least the man with the tarpaulin – there are greater and more profound points being made here about how sex workers are regarded and how they regard themselves. Beyond that she questions if these kinks are really so bad after all. Should we be so judgemental? Her observations about the nature of the male psyche are super insightful and lead us to a new place.
This is a funny, highly original and, in its denouement, very touching (no not that sort of touching) I came away feeling that I had seen something that was as important as it was funny.
Lane Kwederis – Sex Job
Underbelly Bristo Square – Clover
14:25 Aug 8-13, 15-28
