Raunch: slap sticky and smart

Alice Nelson and Jacqueline Russell’s Raunch, cued by Ariel Levy’s book Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture is a fun ride into the world of “feminism” and female physical identity.

It’s kinda like a slap stickier, more relevant, two woman Vagina Monologue. Nelson and Russell take you through a short historical tour of feminism from the early 1900’s to today, examine the morality of Girls Gone Wild, explore the puppeted world of “Hooker Chic” and, added bonus, personify a debauched boob job, including spittle. Yea, so… this is a good play. It’s an excellent balance of information and humor to make you cringe, belly laugh, shout and most importantly think. That’s if you can read all the facts and quotes projected on the screen (watch out for the stage level seating for this show!)

These ladies tackle issues with a physical and intellectual humor that invites the entire audience, male and female, young and old, to investigate the modern culture of “raunch” and how it’s replacing female empowerment with tighter shirts and higher skirts.

You’ll leave False Creek Gym with some intriguing questions: Why is that twelve-year-old girl wearing such tight jeans and high heels? and How can that top 40 song about “lady bumps” and “bitches” be the result of 100 years of women’s liberation? Essentially: what the fuck has happened to modern feminism? Though the current state of affairs are abysmal, you can feel better knowing that women like Nelson and Russell are out there taking notes, poking fun and making people notice.

Raunch is part of this year Vancouver Fringe. For more information go here.