Who needs a man when you have 50 Shades of Grey? This certainly became the chain of thought for millions of women across the UK as they sheepishly dashed out to stores to grab a copy of EL James’ leather-spanking adult trilogy. The original parody, directed by Al Samuels and Rob Lindley, comically re-enacts the explosive, cringeworthy reaction that the fastest selling novel yet in the UK initiated, as well as some of the seediest scenes from the book itself.
Considering the lack of sexual endeavours, ladies in the audience will be pleasantly surprised when two muscular dancers appear on stage with their tops off
The production kicks off with a cliché framing device where Carol, Pam and Bev are vetoing ideas for their book club before Pam predictably suggests 50 Shades of Gray. For those of you lucky enough not to have read this terribly written prose, the story is set in Seattle where Anastasia, the virginal 21-year old, is bewitched by Christian Grey, the suited and booted young entrepreneur who has a skeleton hidden in his closet – plus a whip or two.
Whilst the three ditsy women tackle the first novel and its plethora of metaphors, crudely outrageous scenes from the novel unravel on stage. First we meet Anastasia (Amber Petty), the young girl who can only express her sexual frustration through terribly cheesy song and dance. At times her repetition of expressions with vaginal connotations wears thin, but in an adult show that lacks sex, what other way is there to entertain an audience that James has already desensitised to BDSM?
Arguably the most hilarious moment of the performance is the appearance of Christian Grey (Chris Grace). Instead of the high-flying, jaw-dropping, young heartache women have dreamt up, we are confronted by an overweight, chip-eating, creepy middle-aged man. Stripping girls’ fantasies is evidently this show’s sole intention.
Considering the lack of sexual endeavours, ladies in the audience will be pleasantly surprised when two muscular dancers appear on stage with their tops off. However, prudes beware - although most of the shows grittiness resides in filthy talk and offensive lyrical capability, your face is sure to shrivel up at the sight of Chris Grace comically face-planting in the young Anastasia’s crotch.
This incessantly silly show of tomfoolery is sure to make you laugh out loud, if not cry.
