Denver theater shows all
Denver – Sexual art lined the walls of the new Denver Civic
Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Dr., and one piece in particular was a
sculpture of a rather large penis. Women were the majority, dressed
in their theater attire as they laughed and sipped their cocktails
in nervousness of what was to be the main event of the night.
The stage show is called Puppetry of the Penis, a unique two man
show that center’s around the “ancient art of genital origami,”
including manipulation of their penises and testicles. Their act
involves tricks, folds, stretches, shapes, twists and disfigurement
of their members, which has been a hit in Australia where the show
originates. The show is in full frontal nudity.
Katherine Rosin is the Director of Media Relations and is
slightly nervous at the show’s Oct. 21 performance. The show has
been at the theater since Sept. 1, and runs through Sunday. The two
nude performers are new, replacing their penis predecessors for the
time being. In fact, so new it was Daniel Speed’s first night on
stage and Jef Benjamin’s fourth week.
“Hopefully, the dick tricks will come out,” Rosin said, just
prior to the performance.
What type of person comes to something like this where two men
wiggle their willies?
Well, the crowd is mostly women, but audience members said they
were conveyed to come because they wanted something new and
non-mainstream. There were bachelorete parties, female birthday
parties and some men there who said they were dragged in by friends
or dates.
“I really was not that shocked, but I was impressed by their
bravado,” said Nick Chavez, a Denver resident.
After turning hundreds of audience members into hysterical
laughing boxes, the two novice performers said after the show they
were born to perform and find that making people laugh at their
penises does involve acting.
Speed was still obviously shaken by the whole experience. After
the show he signed autographs, his hand still trembling and his
forehead moist in sweat. Speed has been involved with the show
before, but as a behind-the-scenes kind of guy.
“I was a virgin until just now,” Speed said after her first
penis performance in an Australian accent. “I consider myself an
actor.”
Benjamin, the more experienced of the two, said he was recruited
for the show in Seattle and had to complete an audition in order to
be taken on. At first he was an understudy electrician of the show
but soon became the only American cast member on stage.
“I consider myself an artist,” Benjamin said, who is also
involved in a band and loves the music and venues of Fort
Collins.
Puppetry of the Penis took off in 1998 at the Melbourne
International Comedy Festival thanks to founders Simon Morley and
David Friend. The show has swept the nation in major cities like
Philadelphia and New York City.
The city of Denver initially had doubts the show would take
place in Denver due to issues surrounding liquor laws and
obscenity. Fortunately for the show’s producers the liquor license
ordeal was worked out and it was concluded the show does fall under
First Amendment rights, despite the fact the duo performs tricks
like “the hairy tongue,” “the pelican” and the signature
“hamburger.”
MANLY TRICKS |
Where: The New Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Drive. When: Now playing until Sunday on Tuesdays -Sundays. Tuesday-Thursday 8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.; Sun 7 p.m. |
Ticket Cost: $39.50-$43.50 and 6+ group discounts. Contact: www.ticketwest.com or by calling the box office @ 303-309-3773 |
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