XXX or Just Hype?
Steamy
Stage Scenes At Riverside Studios
If Riverside Studios� notion is �all publicity is good publicity� then
they must be delighted with the furore their controversial show XXX has
managed to cause.
The review, based
on the Marquis de Sade's 18th-century book Philosophy In The Bedroom,
is performed by a Spanish quartet named La Fura Dels Baus. Their director,
Alex Olle is amused by the characteristically British reaction to the
show amusing saying "Since La Fura was founded 25 years ago we have
wanted to shock people so they can open their minds. For me this reaction
is funny - and it is good for our ticket sales."
He was referring to the audience reaction of a scene where a member of
the audience � allegedly a �plant� - was dragged up on stage where he
was subjected to a sexual act. Mr Olle produced the offending article
� a prosthetic penis � as an exhibit for the defence after complaints
were made to the police.
The show features explicit simulated sex scenes � whilst a video screen
showed clips of an explicit sexual activity. However the theatre does
forewarn the audience stating "Please be warned that this show contains
exceptionally explicit scenes of a sexual nature which some may find seriously
offensive"
Outraged demonstrators protested outside the Studios claiming that the
show was lowering the barriers of taste and decency and demanded tougher
obscenity laws.
Not everyone was scandalized, the ES art critic Brian Sewell believes
the show should be allowed to continue no matter what happened on stage.
"I don't see why these things should not be done on the stage. If
you are offended all you have to do is get up and walk out. That is the
only kind of censorship that is honest."
April 26, 2003
Beyond Porn at the Riverside - HammersmithToday.co.uk