If words like history lesson and PowerPoint put you off then
think again - this part-lesbian history show, part theatre, part
live art, part cabaret, oh, and part titty show is anything but
dull!
Strange Hungers have been called obscene inverts, sexless
termites and hermaphroditic spinsters, while delighting the world
with their unique and hilarious look at lesbian history in their
'timeless lavender cabaret' (read: grubby lesbo freak show.)
Originally created for Glasgay! 2011, where it was performed to
great audience acclaim, Strange Hungers has finally made it's way
to Brighton, where they sit us down and say, "you lucky Brighton
queers can bask in the squalid sapphistry of your filthy hosts,
Claude and Maud, as we root around history's icons and dykons. Let
us edu-tain you with shocking tales of cross-dressing, boarding
school crushes, Boston Marriages and 'romantic
friendships'."
Fantastically shocking in parts it is, and so wrong that it can
be nothing but hilarious. The gorgeous Claude (played by Rosana
Cade) sounds so much like Ab Fab's Eddie I have to do a double
take. While Claude might be the funny one, the other character,
butch Maud (played by Eilidh MacAskill), who manages to pull off a
remarkably good German accent, is clearly the stalwart of the show.
Together, they take us on a journey through lesbian history, which
they like to call Bill and Ted's lesbian adventure. Now and again
they'll stop off back in present day to drag poor unsuspecting
audience members up on stage to do the 'lesbian test' on them,
which involves examining their hair, clothes and shoes to determine
whether they are lesbians. Although the funniest part of the
interactive element is when Claude pulls a girl up on stage, lies
her down and starts thrusting her 'belt of dildos' in her face -
yes, she is wearing a belt with dildos hanging from it. Just when I
thought I'd got away unscathed I look up to find Maud gyrating her
crotch in my face asking if I "come here often." Thankfully an
accordion takes us back to the 1920s and Maud and Claude clamber
onto to an imaginary motorcycle for some more time travelling.
The show culminatates in a performance of a sentimental
Hollywood tragedy where Claude is finally seduced and the titty
show can begin! Tearing their tops off, donning top hats and
clutching canes, the ladies treat us to a fantastic burlesque-style
show, receiving a roar from their new fans.
At first, it looked like the show was in danger of being just
another gag-fest about lesbian stereotypes that we've all heard a
thousand times: the Doc Martens, the spiky hair, the cats. But it
soon became obvious that the show is far more unique and bizarre
than Maud and Claude first let on. And who'd of thought you'd
actually learn something about history at a 'titty show'?
