This show is the epitome of fringe and lives up to its late-night slot. Sodom : The Quintessence of Debauchery is an energetic, modern take on John Wilmot 2nd Earl of Rochesters’ outrageous, raunchy political satire of the same name. 350 years since the show was originally banned, today it’s still controversial and the Edinburgh Fringe is one of the few places where audiences would truly appreciate its debauchery.
Sodom is set in the court of a satirical King Charles II in which the King Sodom bans traditional sexual relations and legalises all forms of deviance, creating an environment of total mayhem and chaos. The work examines many themes such as physical and moral decline and the resulting social chaos. I found it interesting how apt some of the messaging was, having been written so long ago when examining it in context to today’s social environment and the current public discourse on such topics.
The costuming was superb and helped to set the scene from the offset as well as aiding many of the jokes later on. I loved the live band and hope that if the show progresses they become more of a feature. The integration of modern musical numbers lent themselves to many laughs and refreshed aspects of the production.
I commend the commitment to the source material; however, I feel the story would benefit from being updated in parts to improve coherency and continuity. This would then more clearly highlight the sharp political messaging of the piece to contemporary audiences.
While all the cast played off each other well, the standout for me was The General who worked the audience superbly and prompted many laughs. The confidence and investment of the cast members helped in places to ease my fears. You could see how much fun they were having and how strongly they believed in the show.
A truly interesting endeavour by Dunsinane Productions; an Edinburgh-based film and theatre company that is dedicated to reimagining historical texts through a contemporary lens. I look forward to seeing what they come up with next. I see huge potential for this to be developed into a longer cabaret with a crisper narrative and more fun songs. If you’re looking for something truly fringey, this show would be it.
Sodom: The Quintessence of Debauchery is running until 22 August at the Space Grand Theatre
Buy tickets here.
Image Via Space Grand Theatre
