Sex, Camp and Rock and Roll is an uninhibited hour of cabaret starring Ryan Patrick Welsh aka the 8th best legs in San Fransisco. Accompanied by a live band and two 60s back-up singers Ruby Day and Sharon Shao (aka ‘The C*nts’) Welsh delivers a highly tantalising performance.
Not for the faint hearted, and nor should it be
The show opens with the promise of a “delicious and potentially nutritious exploration of sex, camp and rock n’ roll” in a musical cabaret fantasy. Interspersing the songs with numerous sex gags and confessional musings on their life, the show takes many forms, with Welsh as our guide. They explore their love of feminine figures growing up (including the likes of Fran Dresher and Donna Summer) through performing their songs and sharing the personal anecdotes behind them. Shoulder pads, glitter, sequins, show tunes, choreography and headdresses pepper the show with a flamboyant spice, encouraging the audience to dance, sing and whoop along.
The first half is incredibly upbeat and the trio articulate the campy music with their sharp and sassy dance moves. The cast charge in with crude jokes that sometimes miss the mark but add to the playful energy of the show. True, it’s explicit and vulgar, but you wouldn’t be there if you expected any less. Welsh himself initially adopts a diva persona; however, as the show develops, they gradually start to peel back the layers and divulge their experience as a young gay boy before becoming a sex worker. Welsh touches on topics that are not often talked about with regards to sex work, which makes for eye opening monologues that challenge the audience’s preconceptions. These moments are followed by slow, lyrical songs that are performed with such heart and vulnerability it is beautiful to watch. The pacing, however, doesn’t feel quite right, and there need to be some more injections of energy into the second half. This could be achieved by shortening the sections of text and adding in another up-beat musical number.
Sex, Camp and Rock and Roll is not for the faint hearted, and nor should it be. Welsh pours their emotion, campiness and charisma all over the stage, producing a rollercoaster ride of a production.
