Flaps of Steel

The Dirrty Show—School of Contemporary Dancers

While waiting for the show to start, the pregame music gives you an indication of things to come. The catchy, off-the-wall tracks keep you giggling and tapping your feet at the same time. Right until curtain time, I played and replayed “welcome to my fungal jungle” in my head. For the faint of heart, the seating songs are mostly tame for what’s to come.

Their messages slap you in the face like—well—steel flaps. By all means, people should embrace the lessons: enjoy your sexuality, be not afraid of your body parts, express your desires, and live life for pleasure. Unfortunately, the messages do not come with a cogent story or any sort of logical development. There’s not enough humour to be a comedy act and too much dialogue to be a musical. The result gives the audience a fractured mishmash of acts.

On the bright side, the performers are accomplished musicians who cradle you with fine tunes, good vocals and bold lyrics. This is an enjoyable show—I just wish that there’s more meaning to it.

Ray Yuen