Despite being exposed to other people’s sex lives more than ever, through reality TV shows like Geordie Shore and Naked Attraction, as a nation we are still pretty reserved when it comes to talking about our own intimate experiences. So, Fran Bushe’s remarkably frank Ad Libido, currently at VAULT Festival, feels as uncomfortable as it does refreshing.
With a little music thrown in, this is a play about sex, or more specifically Fran Bushe’s own experiences of sex. Dressed a little like a children’s entertainer, and on a stage adorned with sparkle, balloons and glitter, Fran delivers a monologue that is definitely eighteen plus.
Fran shares with us the details of her sex life, or more specifically the problems with it. This isn’t a Sex in the City style character bemoaning the lack of sex, this is a real person telling her true story of dealing with Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD), in Fran’s case this means sex is painful, uncomfortable and difficult to enjoy.
With the help of an old overhead projector, Fran takes us through some startling revelations about the condition, and the lack of understanding within the medical profession. We also hear snippets from the diary of the author, written when she was sixteen, and discovering the difficulties that would continue in to adulthood.
Far from depressing, Fran makes this show wildly funny, with plenty of hilarious laugh out loud moments, and any embarrassment you may feel, soon disappears. Not afraid to laugh at herself, Fran employs some wonderful physical comedy to help deliver the message. Ad Libido also contains some enjoyable songs, mostly comic but with one which segues in to a far more tender ballad, which helps the audience concentrate on the matter at hand.
At the end of Ad Libido, Fran invites anyone who wishes to, to come and talk to her afterwards, helping to open up the discussion on a subject that would otherwise remain hidden behind closed bedroom doors. This incredibly brave and candid portrayal of someone who is craving to ‘fix sex’, delivers an important message in a very innovative way.
