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Ernesto Sarezale - In The Name Of The Flesh

Verdict: Shower or grower?

London Hot August Fringe 09 – Royal Vauxhall Tavern – 12 Aug 2009 – 20:00 (c 1:00)

Ernesto Sarezale (c) Ernesto Sarezale 2009

Ernesto Sarezale begins with an amusing description of a particularly memorable one-night-stand. There's a picture of a navel on a screen. The visitor has left something unusual behind - his belly-button - and wants it back. It's a tale of rejection, triumphantly told. There's a video of signs from round London, with spelling mistakes or double meanings (usually sexual), and Ernesto Sarezale tells about invisible lesbians in his area, a phenomenon he explains.

There's a Eurovision Song Contest video with a difference - striptease. Past entrants from round the world get their costumes flamboyantly ripped from their bodies. Inspired by this, Ernesto Sarezale does his own, and continues his show completely naked. Well, not completely - he wears a black rubber glove on one hand and a top hat. Circumcision cues a comparison between American men (circumcised, extrovert, sexually free) and European men (not, less, less) and a video of an erect penis with a squeaky voice.

For the next part of the show, he's naked, but plus pink-and-black striped knee-high socks, heels, a blonde wig and a white feather boa - paying homage to women without willies. 'It took me some time to realise that there were lots of women without willies out there'. He disapproves strongly of blocking lavatories with cans of tuna ('very childish, it is actually vandalism: stop it'), and reveals (as the model) the inner workings of life-drawing classes. In a funny film sequence towards the end, he quizzes people on the streets of London 'Small, medium of large? Shower or grower?' According to the film, a shower is someone who shaves their pubic area and a grower leaves it natural - useful to know.

And much more, to say nothing of a urinal and naked interraction with the audience. Sexual encounters, mixed media and the male form - all quite an insight into the real and surreal world of Ernesto Sarezale.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Ernesto Sarezale – Performer.

Company Credits: Writer - uncredited. Director - uncredited. Video Production Team - uncredited. Sound and Lighting – Dawn Right Nasty. Stage Manager – Nathan Evans. Press - Catia Ciarico. Producer - uncredited. Company - uncredited. Website - www.sarezale.com. Website - www.theroyalvauxhalltavern.co.uk. Website - www.hotaugustfringe.com.

END

(c) Chantal Pierre-Packer 2009

reviewed Wednesday 12 August 2009 / Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London UK

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