Oscar E Moore

Oral sex isn’t what it used to be.  Today it’s the new kissing.  And free to watch on the internet.  But back in the days of Discos, afros, free love, Nixon, Watergate, Mayor Lindsay, Screw Magazine and strict censorship of “porn flicks”- circa 1972 – it was a topic not to be discussed let alone featured in a landmark “adult film” that director Gerard Damiano (John-Charles Kelly) made, aptly named Deep Throat, starring Linda Lovelace (a vulnerable Lori Gardner) and Harry Reems (Malcolm Madera) a nice Jewish boy – “a walking hard-on” who was hungry to become an actor with the emphasis on the hung.

And so “The DEEP THROAT sex scandal” has just opened at 45 Bleecker Street holding nothing back and baring all in the name of freedom to enlighten us as to how the film was made and the repercussions that Harry Reems went through when he was arrested for his participation and how such Hollywood stars as Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty and Tony Bill spoke up in support of Harry and the First Amendment – Freedom of Speech – which playwright David Bertolino would probably call the Freedom of Oral Sex Amendment.

Made for about twenty thousand mob laundered dollars on location in Florida it allegedly made over 600 million.  That profit margin was pretty easy to swallow.  And so it was for Linda Lovelace.  Overcoming her shyness, small bust and gag reflex she became infamous for being able to take Mr. Reems’ large shaft through patient practice and with the insistence of her sadistic, overbearing and abusive husband/manager Chuck Traynor (Zach Wegner).  

In one of the highlights of Act I we see them reenacting the Doctor’s Office Scene where Linda is being examined by Reems and told that her clitoris is not in her vagina but in her throat as the actual footage is projected on a screen.  This may seem tacky but hey, it’s the cheesy70’s and it’s vintage porn and it is tacky which is why it is now so amusing.  As are the vintage costumes by Jeffrey Wallach and make-shift scenic design by Josh Iacovelli.

Act II focuses on the trial.  It’s more serious but done totally tongue in cheek.  And despite this not being a musical there is an eleven o’clock number.  It is a show stopping, pull all the stops out description in Court of the oral sex orgasm scene, done to perfection by Frank Blocker.

Despite his not being hairy as is Mr. Reems, Malcolm Madera gives his all as narrator and powerhouse mustached stud but we have trouble believing that he is the stud he is supposed to be even though he fills his jock strap more than adequately.  Ms. Gardner tries to please everyone and despite an unfortunate wig she does.  Rita Rehn in a variety of roles is extremely funny and in good shape as is Graham Stuart Allen.  Stephen Hope rounds out the cast.

“The DEEP THROAT sex scandal” deals with sex, politics and porn and is directed by Jerry Douglas in a cartoon like manner.  Sometimes hitting the G spot and sometimes missing it completely.   www.45bleecker.com  www.deepthroattheplay.com  Photo: Carol Rosegg

Tags:   David Bertolino · Frank Blocker · Graham Stuart Allen · Jerry Douglas · Lori Gardner · Malcolm Madera · Rita Rehn · Stephen Hope · Zach WegnerNo Comments