I was impressed at the maturity with which the cast handled
the sex scenes, some playing a number of roles, but all with command and
credibility. – (Review by Caroline Smart)
There are “no bedroom ethics – just bedroom epics”.
So says the narrators, a trio of elegantly-dressed ladies,
who introduce the show, before they proudly recount the history of the house
they have just bought.
The house started off as a brothel and then changed hands
numerous times until the present day ... when it is once again a brothel.
However, while at the beginning the pimps were male – they are now women!
As each scene progresses, the audience is presented with a
variety of explicit sexual conversations and actions - and in the final scene,
the characters bare all and start having sex.
Presented by the Arts Education Discipline, School of
Education UKZN, Bedroom Epics
appeared on the Fringe of this year’s National Arts Festival. Directed and
written by Sikhura Makhura, it featured Ntando Gumede, Zama Khanyile, Zinhle
Zakwe and Sosha K as Khabazela and a large supporting cast.
The relationships vary from a prostitute finding the answer
to her personal identity to a husband phoning his girlfriend once his wife has
left for work, only to have the wife come home unexpectedly and discover them. A
married man is having a sexual relationship with another man who, tired of
sharing him, takes his revenge by posting explicit photographs on Facebook. The
wife takes her own revenge
A man enjoying his girlfriend’s company is surprised by the
arrival of his two wives from the rural area. They come to tell him they have
AIDS. He realises who has given him the virus.
A newly-married couple are influenced by the zealous
preacher, but he has his own agenda. The last owner was a movie production
house. A scene is being shot but the actress is constantly disrupting the shoot
to answer calls from her mother.
The audience’s response to the twists and turns of the show
ranged from hilarity at the humour, gasps of amazement at the sexual scenes and
shouts of support to the characters who they felt were unfairly treated.
The lighting was very effective but the smoke was a bit
overdone.
I was impressed at the maturity with which the cast handled
the sex scenes, some playing a number of roles, but all with command and
credibility. The strong educational message of safe sex and the essential use
of condoms was clearly outlined. – Caroline Smart
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