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SEX TOYS! is Norman's Nawrocki's one-man educational comedy cabaret about gay/straight/bi sex & sexuality.

Provocative, challenging, taboo-busting, brash & funny. The third in his series of humorous - but critical - cabaret shows exploring the politics of human sexuality. Zeros in on what we need to know to enjoy loving, healthy, sexual relationships with others & ourselves.

'SEX TOYS' is a self-help look at how to have safe, happy, respectful sex. Allows audiences to laugh at popular misconceptions & rethink their own sexual views & practices. Debunks stereotypes & myths about 'normal', dominant sexual concepts.

Will help reduce inhibitions & prejudices, sexual guilt & shame. Comes with a 'show & tell' of giant sex toys! Guaranteed to get people to think & question sexual attitudes & practices. Encourages them to consider healthier, happier alternatives.

•••> REAL LIFE STORIES
•••> THE PERFORMANCE
•••> HOW DOES IT WORK
•••> THE RESULTS
•••> PERFORMED AT

HOW DOES IT WORK

'SEX TOYS' works as a 'sneak attack' against prejudices & ignorance. From the innocuous poster & promotional material, it might seem like just another funny 'sex show', but the presentation is 100% subversive. Firstly, it reaches the 'unreachables' - the target audience who would never attend a lecture or workshop about important issues like appreciating diversity, stopping sexual violence & misogyny, & practicing safe sex, but will come to a show.

'SEX TOYS' doesn't disappoint. Audiences get their 'sex show' & messages galore. 'SEX TOYS' serves as a giant, 'funhouse mirror' held up to our collective sexuality. We see what's positive & enjoyable, but also what needs to change. Norman takes on, deconstructs & demystifies so-called 'adult' subject matter, creatively & imaginatively without being sexist, homophobic, or gratuitously vulgar.

The show satirizes common sexual stereotypes like 'studliness', 'babehood', 'pornocracy', 'stupid competition,' & allows people to see themselves, their sexual misconceptions & prejudices differently. It allows them to laugh at and question inhibitative, restrictive, damaging myths that hurt. And it allows them to take stock of the very real emotional needs behind our sexual practices. It values feelings over 'technique', consideration & respect over 'mindless performance', and the humanization instead of the 'objectification' of our sexual partners. It teaches people to practice responsible, safe & loving sex instead of dangerous, risk taking. On another level, the show can be seen as very straightforward, basic sexual educational theater. The audience learns sexual fundamentals and more about their own bodies.

THE RESULTS

'SEX TOYS' is brash, titillating & visually & intellectually stimulating. It's also hard-hitting,satirical & sometimes just plain silly. It's designed to provoke, challenge & help contribute to a more enlightened public discourse about our sexuality. It's also meant to replace the 'taboos' in popular conversation with respectful, healthy, critical discussion.

Nawrocki's Sex Toys amuse and educate

Jennifer Barclay, The Peak, SFU

Sex Toys!
Images Theatre Feb. 8

A condom, a vagina and a butt plug walk into a theatre. No really, it's not a joke.

As the music and lights fade in the SFU Images Theatre, "Virginia Vagina" descends upon the stage. Dressed entirely in flowing pink satin, Norman Nawrocki introduces the first of his outrageous and candid characters in his one man show Sex Toys .

As Virginia interacts with the audience, she educates them about what she likes and dislikes, what all her parts are called, and why you should get to know her better. This is a pattern of each character throughout the show-to shock, to amuse and to educate.

The show is a highly energetic series of sketches tackling such topics as sexually transmitted diseases, anal sex, lubrication, and masturbation. It combines live and taped dialog with musical numbers. Although it was choppy at times with so many costume changes, this only added to the excitement and immediacy of this live event.

Vancouver-born Nawrocki masterfully switches characters mid- stream, taking the audience on a hilarious sexual romp. He combines over-the-top characters such as Cowboy Condom Ken, riding a fake horse across the stage and singing a country jingle,  with realistic characters talking about their personal sexual experiences.

The irresistable VIRGINIA VAGINA, aka, Norman Nawrocki

It all started with I Don't Understand Women! , his first  comic sex cabaret. When he toured Canada with the piece, he was shocked at the amount of misinformation and ignorance surrounding sexual issues and practices. He felt a real need for some frank sexual talk without the rigid confines of the classroom. He came up with My Dick & Other Manly Tales , a comic but hard-hitting look at homophobia and male stereotypes.

He admits that his latest show Sex Toys is more playful than My Dick but still combats the same sexual taboos and also addresses gender confusion and gender stereotyping.

Nawrocki's shows have played to full houses of eager students expecting sex jokes and toilet humor. While there is that sort of comedy in the show, it is sandwiched in between highly informative sketches encouraging understanding and tolerance. Nawrocki never slips too far into the teacher role. Like spoon-feeding a baby, he mixes the main course with plenty of fun and frolic.

Most of his university shows are sponsored by campus women's and gay right's groups. They hope that their message of tolerance will reach those who lack awareness in such matters. The audience experiences shock, discomfort, ecstatic laughter, empathy and curiosity in different combinations throughout the show.

What resonates most from Sex Toys is the personable and lovable nature of the characters. Bob Bob the Bum Hole bitterly describes how he is shunned and thoroughly misunderstood.  Shy Eric, is overwhelmed and intimidated by his girlfriend's passion for masturbation. His friend Andy is repeatedly treated as a sexual object and can't seem to find a partner interested in him as a whole person. Beneath the jokes and the funny costumes, a sad and wonderful tale emerges-a tale of sexual confusion, exploration and isolation.

Nawrocki interviewed hundreds of people to make Sex Toys as real and relevant as possible. Not only did he succeed in this venture but also produced a damn funny show in the process.