Lizzie Murray
Kate Spencer makes a splash in her debut one-horny-woman show Squirt. Poetry blends with stand-up comedy in this body positive, sex positive and positively vulgar treat.
As the audience enters the Fringe Bar they are asked to share their sexual fantasies to be revealed onstage and go in the draw to win a mystery sex toy sponsored by Adult Toy Mega Store. While fun and quirky I’m sorry to say it's not the first time the Fringe Festival has dared me to do this. However, the audience’s answers will always be original like one attendee whose ultimate fantasy is “a foursome, outdoors on LSD.”
As the audience enters the Fringe Bar they are asked to share their sexual fantasies to be revealed onstage and go in the draw to win a mystery sex toy sponsored by Adult Toy Mega Store. While fun and quirky I’m sorry to say it's not the first time the Fringe Festival has dared me to do this. However, the audience’s answers will always be original like one attendee whose ultimate fantasy is “a foursome, outdoors on LSD.”
Spencer commands the stage. I gush at her charisma and confidence. She is unapologetically and hilariously smutty. Her style is fast, smart and slams the patriarchy. She shares the ‘A to Z of Sex’ and ‘A Complete Guide to Anal.’ Her poetry hits sweet spots like period poverty in ‘Period Piece’ and masturbation celebration in ‘I Do it to Myself.’ She did refer to her notes, but I trust in next season’s showing she would recite them off by heart, giving her more freedom to interact with the set.
At first glance, the small Fringe Bar stage appears like a peek into a quirky librarian's lounge. A cheerful red couch sits upon a shaggy red carpet. Framed artwork and her self-published poetry book lean against the couch. Only then do you notice the pink fluffy handcuffs hanging from the lectern and other, scarier looking toys I don’t know the names of. Squirt has the potential to heighten its cosy yet crass scenography. The poet’s book and other artist’s works are picked up and plugged throughout the show. These artworks were gagging to be suspended from the ceiling in order to give it a seamless, real lounge effect and prevent awkward product placement.
A few forgivable first night mistakes happened. Our sexual fantasy paper slips took a while to make its way to the stage. Perhaps we could slip our sexy answers into a box onstage instead. Water pistols for the front row were delivered too late and leaked in their bag off stage. Spencer successfully salvaged three and we were still able to squirt her during the raunchy titular poem.
Spencer doesn’t let these few mishaps cramp her style. She keeps calm and carries strap ons. Literally. She became the erotic Oprah on Tuesday night, throwing mystery sex toys to a few lucky audience members brave enough to share why they need them.
If you’re a wanker who enjoys poetry, don’t miss this filthy addition to the “Minge Festival”.
Squirt is on at 7:00pm at The Fringe Bar until the 9th March. For tickets click here.
For the full Program visit the Fringe Website.