Sodom, The Quintessence of Debauchery
If the title weren’t enough of a clue, let me preface this review by saying that this is not a show for the easily offended or underage. Based on the Restoration closet drama of the same name, Sodom, or The Quintessence of Debauchery is a frenzied farrago of filth and ‘fucking’.
Traditionally attributed to John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, the infamous libertine poet of Charles II's court, the play was first published in 1684 and remained largely unperformed for centuries, with no known public performance until 1986. For this adaptation it is presented, mercifully, not as erotica, or even pornography, but as a farcical queer cabaret pitched somewhere between The Threepenny Opera and Drag Race. The direction, staging and visuals are all fantastic and the cast superb. Standout turns are given by Anna Gion and Dale Wylde, as well as Ash KB, whose stage presence steals every scene they are in as the priapically preoccupied King. The live band, including cello and flute, is a sumptuous extra touch, whilst the injection of modern music was an unexpected highlight. A particularly vivid rendition of Milkshake was probably my favourite moment of the show.
Unfortunately, the source material itself, while an interesting historical curio, was neither artistically nor comically engaging enough to hold my attention for the 50-minute runtime. Many audience members were in stitches throughout, so your mileage may vary on this, but as someone fairly unshockable, I found the titillation repetitive and ultimately not enough to keep me interested without some additional dimension. Had this been a 15-20 minute sketch, it could have been magnificent, but as it was, I found myself surprisingly bored by the end despite the well-executed outrageousness on display.
★★★★
