Sodom
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Reviewed by: Nati Ziv
Before you watch Particular Desire’s Sodom, ask yourself this: how many dildos are you comfortable with? How about a glow-in-the-dark dildo? How do you feel about tentacles? How about a six-foot-tall, girthy prick complete with a set of goat legs to prop the thing up?
If any of the above made you cringe, Sodom may not be for you, but I would honestly encourage anyone to step out of their comfort zone to watch this gem of a performance.
For almost 400 years, this play has divided audiences and sparked so much controversy that it was almost instantly banned upon its release. Obscene, raunchy and filthy even by today’s standards, it’s worth knowing what you’re signing yourself up to.
The play begins with Bolloxinion, King of Sodom, legalising buggery, or, for the common folk reading this, anal sex. Thus, a wave of debauchery is released throughout the kingdom.
The events that unfold are told in Old English, true to the original script. Though this meant some lines went over my head, it also allowed for some of the most hilariously unexpected moments in the show.
The most memorable part of Sodom is its hilarious physical comedy, even if 90% of the physical props are dildos. Actually… especially because 90% of the props are dildos. How, you might ask, does it not get old? Well, that’s easy. All the dildos are different!
Seriously though, there’s a distinction to be made here. While vulgar, crude and explicit, there is no nudity in this show, and nothing ever made me remotely uncomfortable. In fact, the costuming was nothing short of incredible, pulling out all the stops to ensure each character was adorned in classic Restoration-era decadence.
There have been some incredibly mixed reviews of this production. I will agree with other critics that, around an hour into the show, the shock value of constant overtly sexual references does wear off and turn repetitive. The plot itself is quite basic, with only four major events happening in the entire 80-minute runtime. This, however, is faithful to the original production of 1684, a choice by producer Nikita Matthews which I ultimately respect. It’s why I think it’s better to know what you’re getting into before you buy a ticket.
This was a blast. The audience was creasing with laughter, the performances were polished and top-notch, and the impromptu musical numbers were nothing short of wonderful. Come and find out why everyone is talking about Sodom!
