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A layered and insightful slice of musical cabaret, which explores an impressive variety of topics around sex and sexuality.Summary
Rating
Excellent
Told in eight chapters and structured as if it were a television show, The Catalogue of Sexual Insecurities is a mixture of monologues, comedy sketches and songs, and it’s a quirkily delightful concoction. On paper, it might sound like it should not work, as the music is inspired by The Andrews Sisters who found fame in the 1930s and 40s, but it’s a deceptively layered production which manages to be both playful and substantial.
This musical cabaret starts in a light and frothy manner with an innuendo-laden opening number which feels a little dated. I have to confess that during the opening couple of minutes I had a sinking feeling as the subject of sex education was discussed and jokes were made about having to put condoms on bananas that I’d first heard decades ago. Thankfully, however, the Hysterical Ladies quickly moved past such material, and it became a far more personal and insightful show.
Performed by Marion Poli, Charlotte Szabo and Aniqa Charania, each artist has a very different perspective on sex and sexuality, which we learn is partially due to the countries they were born in, but also their families, friends and various other individual circumstances. Throw in to the mix encounters with past partners and this allows them to tackle subjects in a fascinating level of depth. Opposing points of view are often expressed, without any judgment as to whether someone should or shouldn’t feel a certain way.
In the wrong hands this could come across in a dry manner, but thankfully there’s an enormous amount of variation in the way they handle the material. There are sketches with a theatrical feel but also fabricated adverts. At one point we join the trio as they’re supposedly backstage. The production also includes what feels like natural conversations about how someone might feel about a specific incident. It means it’s an impressively unpredictable creation, and even though clearly completely scripted, the cast deserve enormous credit as it never seems like an actor is trotting out dialogue they’ve spent hours learning.
The show takes a serious turn towards the end but it does so in a way that feels needed, and difficult topics are handled in an honest, affecting manner. It all adds up to a performance that consistently fascinates with its inventive approach to topics that some may find a little uncomfortable, but which are handled in a considerate and thoughtful manner. This has been a production I’ve been recommending to everyone I know since I left the auditorium.
Written and performed by: Marion Poli, Charlotte Szabo and Aniqa Charania
Directed by: Inès Amoura
Music by: Patrice Peyriéras, Jessica Rock
Choreography by: Mallory Cheminet
The Catalogue of Sexual Insecurities runs at The White Bear Theatre in Kennington until 28th September, and is on tour afterwards. Further information and booking details can be found here.
