The prospect of a 47 year-old man reviewing his sex life isn’t the most salubrious suggestion on this year’s bill but do try and dispel any images of a grubby old man in a battered mack, as Peter Searles’ new show could be one of the best things in Edinburgh this year.
Part stand-up, part storytelling and part fantastic physical comedy, Sex, Life & EFT is a hilarious journey through Searles’ entire sex life to date.
From fearing he was pregnant at boarding school to losing the undoubted love of his life to another man, Searles’ tale can be disgusting, depraved and even saddening at times but it is always thoroughly engaging and captivating.
With his undying energy and perfectly formed expressions and mimes, it is easy to caught up in the moment and be right there with him as he recounts every thrust, repulsion and feeling of guilt from a lifetime of sexual exploration. Sometimes this isn’t what you want to visualise but the honesty of the moments pour out in delightful deluge of self-mockery.
It would be easy to dismiss this simply as a show for voyeuristic hedonists but it is so much more than that. It is a beautiful love story, a despicable warning and, ultimately, a heart-felt unburdening all rolled into one. Searles has a wicked sense of humour and a grandiose sense of drama and Sex, Life & EFT seems like the perfect vehicle for these.
It will be a sin if Searles isn’t nominated for at least one award this year, so grab a ticket while you can – they’re going to go fast!
5/5
Richard Biggs
