★★★★★
Adelaide Fringe. Thomas Kostakis. 8 Mar 2023
It took me a while to relax. First, I assumed that the sex in question would be heterosexual; the sperm motif on the poster pointed to a potential exposé on the little bugger’s capture or use. Secondly, the set was that of a game show and the actors seemed to threaten an audience member with a first date television challenge; the handy readiness of a bed made me nervous. Did I have the right clothes on to take off? Once it was established I would keep my shirt on, I uncrossed my legs and enjoyed the show.
Thomas Kostakis has reimagined his nascent sexual encounters as a game of chance – The Dos and Don’ts of Doing It - with buzzers or bells for partner-pleasing behaviour. Spin the wheel and avoid the buzzer. It’s kind of like being on a f*cking freeway with stop lights.
And it’s very clever theatre. With the animated and talented Marc Clements as co-contestant, Kostakis’s experiences are laid bare as in Married at First Sight. His wry humour, observations and wit are delivered as narrator, contestant and himself – a really riotous rotation of voices. “In Sydney, I just have to lean over a park bench and I’ve got plans for the weekend.” “Why send pics of your flaccid dick? You wouldn’t go to a job interview with half a resume.” The sex is frank and overt, but stylised and emotionally effective, especially post-coitus or when disappointing. Clements and Kostakis work well together in conveying the tricky relationships. Director Alex Howarth shaped the whole shebang. Sound effects and lighting are carefully planned to enrich the experience.
The beauty of the writing is that as the punchy game show sex wanes, reality intrudes in a subtle transition. After a flurry of buzzers and unsatisfactory experiences, our hero wisely seeks help. A clue to the solution is that the production is supported by a physiotherapist. Gay game show sex is not all beer and skittles, but sexual dysfunction is not unique to this flavour of sexuality. Anybody can be, and is, actually, a contestant in this game. Kostakis shares the frisson and the search for love and answers in a superbly inventive way with humour and sensitivity. Bravo!
David Grybowski
When: 7 to 12 Mar
Where: Holden Street Theatres – The Studio
Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au
