P*RN, at Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory - 65 minutes

The ingenious, provocative title is no doubt a drawcard.

Without even reading the blurb on the Theatre Works’ website, the mind starts whirring.

Porn is universal, omnipotent.

Many – perhaps most – consume it in some form … often from a relatively young age.

So, just how far will this production take it? What issues will it tackle?

Truth be told, P*RN starts with a statistical analysis of just how pervasive porn production and consumption is.

We are talking about a $100 billion industry. 

From humble beginnings in Montreal, Canada in 2007, Pornhub – launched by web developer Matt Keezer – has grown to become the 20^th most visited website in the world.

Kinks? There are multitudes of them.

For the ensuing hour, we see and hear from six actors playing straight, gay and trans roles – those who are attracted to porn and others who see it as forbidden.

The fact is that at some point their characters’ true selves will out.

One can only bury one’s sexuality for so long, for it is an intense driver.

Vignettes – some lasting but seconds and others a few minutes – portray everyone from a sexy teacher, nurse and stewardess to a whore, teenager, girl next door, porn star and more. 

The play also touches on the insidious issue of child sexploitation.

That aside, the conclusion I drew from writer/director Keelan Armstrong’s work is that if you are not harming anyone else, whatever you want to pursue is fair game.

In fact, broader than that, let your reality shine.

P*RN is essentially a darkly comedic take on the prolific adult industry sector.

As much of a drawcard as the subject matter is, the biggest issue I had with it is that a number of the actors failed to project adequately, so several punch lines were lost.

On occasions, delivery was also too fast.

So it is that P*RN, which is playing at Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory, as part of the Midsumma Festival, until 31^st January, is engaging to a point.