This is Not a Porno - Pure Silliness

You are an extra. Your call time is 8:30pm, location the Picnic Pavilion. You are handed a costume consisting of a hood made from a black garbage bag and a plastic mask. You are working for a cookie. They are making a movie, or trying to anyway. Is it high art? Is it porn? Can it be both?

This is Not a Porno is described as a “site-specific interactive roaming show” and true to its word, it tows the audience around various locations on the island, sometimes at the end of a rope. There are some adventurous actors in this piece. The leading lady arrives on a raft, punting herself down the small pond that runs beside the pavilion. Not to be outdone by another actor, who (*Spoiler Alert*) after some playful shtick with an audience member and a cell phone, dives head first into the putrid water. Be warned, as an audience member / extra you are expected to dive in and join the debauchery as this production relies heavily on audience participation to tell the story.

I assumed the actors were improvising around a basic skeleton of a script but then I noted not one but two writing credits in the program. The dialogue I found to be mostly nonsensical, reminding me of why people in porn films often don’t speak. The director's notes discuss the concepts of being centered and grounded and living in the moment. My guess is this is meant to be a request of the audience to play along and be good sports as it holds little relevance to anything I witnessed onstage.

My co-audience members seemed to be enjoying themselves, though there were some ringers placed amongst us to keep some of the sillier audience participation scenes moving along.

While an interesting concept, this show was not for me. However, if you enjoy hyper exaggerated, over the top, silliness and find you are in need of a walk and a cookie this might be the show for you. Make sure you dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear.