Lust & Marriage: A Woman's Journey into Polyamory
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015, 9:15 PM – 10:30 PM
Thursday, September 3rd, 2015, 9:15 PM – 10:30 PM
Friday, September 4th, 2015, 9:15 PM – 10:30 PM
Saturday, September 5th, 2015, 9:15 PM – 10:30 PM
Description:
From the opening moments, we learn this solo show is about soul mates, and the search for love and lust. Emily is the hero of the story, a character very much a literary stand-in for author and performer Eleanor O’Brien. We meet her as a child, fascinated by romance novels and her father’s porn. The show traces her journey from awkward teen to college boyfriends, complete with disappointing first times and disastrous blowjobs. But then she discovers renown sex-columnist Dan Savage, her ‘gay fairy godfather’. Dan helps her learn to ask for what she wants (“I can touch my own clit during sex?”), and encourages her to be GGG (Good, Giving and Game). Emily goes on a spree of experimentation, culminating in the “grand prix of getting lucky,” Burning Man. At the world’s largest alternative event, she meets Matt, who turns out to be the love of her life-but he doesn’t identify as monogamous. Can they make it work? Emily asks Dan for advice as they navigate the thrills and valleys of opening the relationship: how to negotiate boundaries, deal with jealousy and keep from falling in love with other people. She thinks if they follow the rules they've set, they can keep their relationship safe. They can be “monogamish,” and keep the spark in their marriage. When a magical threesome drives her to utter meltdown, Emily insists on closing their marriage. But monogamy doesn’t solve all their problems. Emily and Matt discover they have different libidos - and the seven-year itch isn’t a myth. He encourages her to spread her wings, so she takes a lover. All's fine for a while, but soon she finds herself falling in love with Michael, her NSA partner for play. She is terrified of losing her marriage to Matt, and asks Dan again for advice. “Is polyamory a utopian ideal?” During an ayahuasca ceremony, Emily finally sees where she's been blind to how her behavior has stifled her marriage, and how she has to let go of the need for certainty, or controlling anyone else’s heart.