Theater review: My First Time

by Staff of Gay List Daily

Who doesn’t remember their first time? Well, probably at least a handful of you who were knee-deep in tequila or roofies at the time. But for the rest of us, that maiden voyage on the S.S. Fornication was something to lock away in the memory vaults… for better or worse.

As the title implies the play My First Time, spawned from a website of the same name, is a collection of stories capturing every tawdry, humiliating, sexy and funny detail about making it past third base.

Sure, everyone wants to pretend like losing their virginity was just like the potter’s wheel scene from Ghost, but with the anonymity of cyberspace the tales take on a much more raw and poignant tone.

Actors Oscar Contreras (of Dallas film R U Invited fame), Matthew M. Fowler, JuNene K and Meredith Morton breathe life into the confessional scenarios with a frenetic range of accents and idiosyncrasies. Along the way they create shy geeks ready to get busy with any willing participant, noble women who surrender their chastity for a greater good and studs who do it just for the bragging rights.

But acting aside, it’s the interactive slide show that transforms My First Time from traditional theater into audience experience. Songs like Color Me Badd’s “I Wanna Sex You Up” play as fun facts and statistics about coming of age highlight the screen.

It’s just the kind of carnal knowledge that will make for a great icebreaker at the next business card exchange.

Tickets: $25 V.I.P., $20 General Admission; Runs: Friday, April 17 as part of the DFW Fringe Festival; Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2 at 8:15 p.m.; Dallas Hub Theater; www.smarttix.com