Sexy Ghost Boy at Kanuti Gildi SAAL

It felt appropriate that we gathered in Old Town’s 400-year-old Kanuti Gildi SAAL for the appearance of Sexy Ghost Boy, where we were welcomed at the door with a list of instructions for his summoning, both in English and Estonian. While intriguing, these did little to fully prepare us for the performance to follow.

After ordering drinks and mingling in the lobby, speculating with friends and strangers alike, we move into the black box where the magic is to happen. The rule of the show is participation: unspoken yet clearly directed, and profoundly consensual if incredibly bizarre. Having invoked the names of Madonna, George Clooney, and Idris Elba, as well as a collective bout of Macarena and some casual screaming, the sexy ghost boy himself enters the stage and begins his rituals of preparation.

A combination of clowning and burlesque, with an incredible instinct for audience engagement and some very well-placed props, we find ourselves complicit in the process of undressing and dressing, showering and shaving, these normally deeply private acts made silly but kept intimate as the Sexy Ghost Boy haunts us into action. It takes a certain kind of person, and personality to be both servile and insistent, coy and comedic. “Ahh!” “Oh no!” and “Oh yeahhh~!” are the only words spoken, by the performer and audience alike, though there is no shortage of sounds or laughter. 

The show evolves from getting ready through to the end of hot date, followed not by a walk of shame but a stride of pride as several audience members follow Sexy Ghost Boy backstage, with clothes flung out soon after. There’s grape-jelly portraiture and gratuitous pool noodle, fruits and fist bumps, spritz bottles and shower caps. People are drawn out of their seats and into the experience in ways I’m pretty sure none of them anticipated – with clear consent requested and granted throughout – honestly a master class in how to have a great night.

Sexy Ghost Boy can be summoned only one more evening, Saturday 22 August, but the Tallinn Fringe Festival has more treats in store throughout the rest of its month-long run. 

Author: Laurie

Laurie likes alliteration, ambiance, and lists with three things.