Review: Sex And Other Philosophies
Picture: Swiping left or right: Sin or Pray? (Credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Karen Lee Roberts received the 2021 Access Arts Achievement Award, which has supported the development of Sex And Other Philosophies, a new collaboration with Lucinda Shaw and James Halloran. After much heart-searching and hard work—some of which was clearly great fun—the three artists held a preview/showing of the work ‘in development’ at Milton’s Pip Theatre. The 80+ minute cabaret featured around ten musical numbers (of different genres, perhaps dominated by prog-rock), where each song was ‘introduced’ with a short (often comic) scene.
Audience members were invited to leave feedback by answering a few questions: what did you enjoy/what are the best bits? how did you feel/emotional buttons? any suggestions, thoughts, or reflections? and ‘where might we go from here? So here goes with a few answers…
The show was light-hearted and often fun, but it still touched on a number of serious philosophical matters—including ‘who are you?,’ finding ‘your’ god (the great ‘I Want to Find a God’ App, complete with the Sin or Pray choices), and the sound of the universes (‘That’s my Tinnitus’). The performers worked well together, and clearly found the development process to be creative and mutually supportive.
I have recently had the opportunity to admire Shaw’s Silver Sircus, and have previously seen Lee Roberts in the show that later became Chameleon, but this was my introduction to the fabulous James Halloran (who is definitely one to follow). The variety of musical genres added to the texture of the show. I enjoyed many of the musical numbers; personal highlights included Halloran’s ‘Falling Down Angel’ and ‘Mezzanine’ numbers, Lee Roberts’ ‘Now that I’ve Found You,’ the haunting ‘Everlasting Kiss’ tune (Halloran on keys), and the ‘Brecht-fast’ (‘Don’t drink the Hemlock’) number led by Shaw.
Picture: Platonic and Socratic restaurant debate (Credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Picture (L to R): Karen Lee Roberts and Lucinda Shaw rocking those costumes (Credit: Creative Futures Photography).
The creatives had clearly given great thought to the audience experience. Scenes were relatively short segways to the musical numbers, and interactions with the audience were well-worked—from the LGBTIQ+ lolly call out, through to walking down into the cabaret space to pose more direct questions to the audience (and here I have to congratulate the exceptional AUSLAN interpreter). The projections were excellent—enhancing each scene, providing a fantastic backdrop for the music, and very funny when it came to the ‘credits.’ The props and costumes were a good idea, and added to the fun. For me, the best comic moments came when the artists were lampooning the newsreader/weather forecaster ‘genre’ (Shaw had fun in this skit) and parodying the work of esteemed philosophers (just hope they keep the Socrates-Plato meal in future shows, as their giggling was infectious), where both scenes benefited from the excellent choice of props/costumes.
Suggestions for future development might include adding a guitar or other instrument into the mix, considering using some of the opening ‘what’s on your mind’ questions as ‘chapter headings’ throughout the work (tying in that great opening scene with the themes that emerged during the rest of the show), omitting the Oliver Sachs scene, and considering how ‘bold’ the show needs to be (or just dropping the description of Sex And Other Philosophies as a bold new cabaret, and concentrating on promoting what I’d describe as a thought-provoking response to the great philosophical questions of our lives… where lollies and cheese are often the answer).
Congratulations to the team, and also to Access Arts for their work with Queensland performing and visual artists working with disability or disadvantage. The Arts Achievement Award has clearly worked well on this occasion, supporting the creation, development and presentation of this new work as an equal and diverse collaboration. Sex And Other Philosophies was conceived as ‘a bold new cabaret.’ At this point in the development, I’d describe it as cabaret show that would already attract and entertain fringe festival audiences. Perhaps not yet ‘bold,’ but I have a feeling that this trio may just continue to be bold in their ambitions for the work.
Verdict: A great development showing. Keep an eye out for the work at future Fringe events.
Picture: James Halloran (Credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Audience information: Sex And Other Philosophies had a development showing at Pip Theatre, Milton on 25 November 2022. 14+, mature references. 80 minutes, no interval.
The reviewer attended the 25 November 2022 performance (7:00pm).
Pictures credit: Creative Futures Photography