Pop-culture themed stripteases, Tenacious D covers and a BDSM magic act were among the performances at Stage Left Studio’s salacious Forbidden Kiss event April 18 in Santa Rosa’s California Theatre.
“Geek Love” was the theme for April’s show. “I wanted to celebrate geeks and those folks who are too smart for their own good,” said show host Cheryl King.
“There’s magic in the show, comedy, improv, burlesque, song and dance, sketches, monologue,” King said. “It’s not for the faint hearted. It’s for people who are confident.”
The showrunners invited the audience to throw cash onstage during performances. Before the show began, an audience member threw a beaded bracelet onstage that exploded on impact, which delayed the first performance.
The California Theatre features a bar integrated with the main seating area where the majority of the audience sat. Liz P & Kim K began the show with their Super Mario Brothers-themed striptease titled “Fun at the Arcade.” They included references to the source material in their performance. A cardboard cutout of the fire flower powerup appeared prominently, which they used to facilitate further stripping.
The next act, Magician Vixen, selected me to participate in her act “Good boy.” I was tied to a chair onstage and henceforth referred to as Bob. She performed a card trick with me amidst a dance routine. She gave me a balloon and prize bag, which included two condoms, a pack of Welch’s fruit snacks and a small duck toy for my participation.
“We’re fighting fascism right now!” said performer Karenna Slade during her first act, a ukulele performance focused on gender inequality in late 20th century cinema followed by a song about having sex with characters from “Star Wars.”
Underground Improv, a local comedy group, invited viewers to submit locations for their segment “Two-Minute Speed Date.” The performers chose the locations of Mom’s Basement and Disneyland. Secrets Boutique, a Santa Rosa adult entertainment store, provided prizes to those whose prompts were chosen.
Kat Motley and Titus Androgynous performed their Legend of Zelda-themed sketch, “For the sake of Hyrule.” Zelda attempts to turn Link straight and discovers a body pillow of Sidon, a side character from the games.
Santa Rosa hip-hop artist LaiddBackZach performed three songs and invited the audience to sing along during his performance.
“I started writing poetry and then it evolved into writing music and performing,” LaiddBackZach said in an interview. “I was a big Tupac fan; Michael Jackson, Usher.”
Secrets Boutique provided another round of prizes to winners of an audience costume contest. Costumes ranged from DC Superheroes to classical “geeky” attire with tweed jackets and taped glasses. Cheers from the audience decided several winners.
“You usually have two or three acts that no matter what they do, they always kill,” King said. “But then you want to give newcomers into the business an opportunity, and they may not be quite so advanced. You want to give a nice variety.”
Thotty McNaughty performed “Lord of the Rings” dressed as Gandalf the Grey, reenacting the “You shall not pass” scene from the movie, later coming back from the dead as Gandalf the White with fewer clothes on.
Titus Androgynous returned with “King for a Day” and danced as the Super Mario Brothers antagonist Bowser to an accompanying pop-punk theme.
Kareena Slade performed a cover of the band Tenacious D’s “Deth Starr” as the final act.
“The people who push the envelope are the ones that I admire and the ones I want to emulate,” King said. “You never get anywhere by self censoring.”
Forbidden Kiss is an 18-and-older monthly variety show hosted by King at the California Theatre at 528 Seventh Street. Doors for the event open at 7 p.m. while the show runs from 7:30-9:30 p.m. The theme for next month is “Rawhide,” taking place on May 16. Tickets cost $18 online or $25 at the door.
Photography and video is not allowed at The California Theatre except by authorized individuals.
