The Virgin Club, written and performed by Phyllis Foundis. National Multicultural Festival at ANU Arts Centre, February 15 - 19. Bookings: Canberra Ticketing 6275 2700.
"Do you remember your first kiss?", asked Phyllis, of a woman audience member, who obviously had no problem doing so. Of a man inadvertently in the centre of the front row she asked "Do you remember your first ... Cortina?" The audience of 90% women fell about laughing, as they did throughout The Virgin Club.
This was the most innocent joke in the story of Phyllis's journey towards devirgination, which should come with the warning "The following show is stuffed full of sexual references". These include pictures of sex-shop paraphernalia, and some real ones. Be near the front to receive a lipstick vibrator or something larger.
But the show is not pornographic. The laughs are in recognition by the women of their own experiences. For men, there is a sense of camaraderie with the women and probably a realisation of how much more they may need to know. Foundis creates Phyllis not as a naif, nor as a come-on, but as an honest woman reflecting on the frustrations of a traditional Greek upbringing. Perhaps the most hilarious scene is near the end when she attempts to advertise a "second-hand vagina" for sale. But it's a sad irony that so much guilt can be attached to breaking the hymen at the age of 26.
Phyllis's mother is an essential element in her story, fascinating for her conflicting attitudes. On the one hand, Phyllis's virginity must be preserved and orgasms denied their potency. On the other, her answers to young Phyllis's questions are couched in the most earthy terms. We laugh either way, and enjoy with Phyllis her final feelings of cleanliness and satisfaction.
Only afterwards, beyond the theatrical illusion, did I think, Where has this mother been for the last 30 years? Locked, I suppose, in a time-warp where virginity and purity, family honour and ownership of property are inevitably linked. And the young woman is responsible for that "honour", regardless of modern contraception. And guilty, risking dire consequences if she breaks the code.
I have no doubt that you will enjoy the performance, while I think Foundis is more profound than Phyllis seems.
© Frank McKone, Canberra
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