Not for the faint of heart
THE title of David Tulloch’s Risqué, now playing at Stages Theatre in New Kingston, tells it all. But what unfolds on stage is truly a shocker.
The advertisements for the play encourage patrons to ‘come if you dare’ and ‘see Jamaica’s first erotic thriller’. The graphic nature of the production is definitely not for the conservative.
It surrounds a just-married couple, Dr Howard Reese and his very proper wife Laci who, months after the nuptials, are yet to consummate the marriage.
In order to spice up what they have not started, based on a radio commercial, they book into a couples retreat in Negril.
What unfolds left many mouths agape. Graphic sexual content, nudity, adult language and situations all play out during Risqué. Although it will appeal to the animal instincts, there seems to be an attempt to cover an underdeveloped story with outrageous scenes.
The truth is, Risqué has the potential to be a great story minus the strong sexual content, which could have easily been injected in a lessened dose for emphasis. By the final scenes when everyone had put their clothes back on, what unfolded was the core of what could be a potent drama.
The nudity presented on stage is purely for shock value and does not help to advance the story. However, lead actors Carline Brown and Curley Roberts who play the Reeses turn in good performances.
Their ability to stay in character despite all the sexual distractions was commendable. Marlon Brown as Max the dreadlocked gigolo also gave a fair showing.
Risqué, which closes this weekend, is definitely not for the faint of heart.
