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The real truth about Bambi
STIFF ACRIYLIC HEN AND CHICKENS
A HOMAGE to infamous American porn actress Bambi Woods, Kevin Emerson fills in the gaps, following her disappearance from public life.
Woods was the star of Debbie Does Dallas in 1979 and the object of desire for thousands of teenage boys at the time. In Emerson’s play, she (Anne Wittman) inhabits a seedy strip club as an ageing dancer and alcoholic – a modern Blanche Dubois.
Wittman’s performance is particularly strong, supported by a disturbingly rational Glen Conroy.
The content of the play, however, is steeped in cliché – particularly in the rivalry between Bambi and younger stripper on the scene, Shasei (Ciara Dooley).
The ageing Bambi wistfully remembers her former youthful vigour, as top lady of the striptease. This leads to predictable banter along the lines of “you dried up old has-been,” and Bambi’s retort, “I’ve been doing this since you were learning to push your breasts together to make them look bigger”.
Documentary-style interviews with various people who knew Woods juxtapose the second plot, which involves two frat boys undertaking a road trip, concluding with Holly (a wonderfully trashy Sarah Strong) performing fellatio on her lover’s friend.
This twisted self-fulfilling prophecy is performed on the grave of Miss Bambi Woods! Intrigued? You should be.
Stiff Acrylic forms an interesting comment on the nature of virtual sex, pornography, and the lurid sex industry as a damaging strain on good honest human relationships.
But if your tastes do not run this deep, prepare yourself for a night of stockings, suspenders and overt sexual references. Subtle, the play is not.
Until October 6
020 7704 2001
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