By Aaron MaysPLAY Writer
Loosen up your buttons and release tension.
Chicago’s new sexually-infused comedy, Kama Sutra The Musical: The Second Coming, takes the taboo away from sex and rewraps it with humor and energy. It is now playing at the Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.
“This is a show you can enjoy and laugh with…to feel totally entertained,” says writer and Grammy award winner Terry Abrahamson.
The musical explores the relationship of Dick and Gina, a married couple whose intimate relations leave both of them unsatisfied. However, Swami Comonawannagetonya, a Kama Sutra teacher, arrives to rejuvenate Dick and Gina’s dull sex life.
At first glance, this musical looks as if it is a live porn show, but looks are deceiving. Kama Sutra deals with the couple’s difficulty expressing their sexual needs, a problem to which many couples can attest. The lack of communication and self-expression cause Dick and Gina’s sexual rift.
“(The art of) Kama Sutra is really a metaphor for flexibility of the mind (and the spirit) and all the ways we can explore how to please the people we are involved with romantically,” Abrahamson says.
As a contemporary comparison, audience members might match up Kama Sutra to the popular Broadway show Hair, Abrahamson says. But this is an original work where the audience can see how sex can be used as a comical topic.
Kama Sutra The Musical: The Second Coming is a revision of a piece Abrahamson produced early this year. Originally a cabaret act called Kama Sutra: The Quickie, the show previewed at two Chicago cabarets, where the music received praise from its listeners. Later, the show evolved into the Kama Sutra: The Musical and now into Kama Sutra The Musical: The Second Coming.
One of the strengths of Kama Sutra is its music. It employs several genres, ranging from gospel to R&B-driven rock to dance. Song titles such as “Meet My Clitoris,” “Size Matters,” “Baby, Won’t You Do Me Where the Sun Don’t Shine” and “Blame it On Cher” allude to the humor and innuendoes that are packed into this 90-minute joy ride.
“(The show has) sexy songs, funny songs and inspirational songs. There are a lot of fun songs that will stay in your head and you will be humming to,” Abrahamson says.
Abrahamson has high hopes about the audience’s reception to the show as well.
“The audience will walk away with a sense of empowerment, and primarily the audience will dive into their sex lives with renewed excitement and anticipation,” Abrahamson says.
Kama Sutra The Musical: The Second Coming will run until through Sunday, Dec. 31. Performances are Thurs. and Fri. at 8:30 p.m. and Sat. 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Tickets are $25-$30. For show details, performance schedules or to purchase tickets, call the Theatre Building Chicago’s box office at 773.327.5252 or visit www.theatrebuildingchicago.org. Tickets are also available at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling Ticketmaster at 312.902.1500. Kama Sutra is for adults 18 and over, unless legal guardians accompany minors.
Communication senior Aaron Mays is a PLAY writer. He can be reached at [email protected].