The Last King of Porn

Immersive, provocative, and captivating: this was my experience with The Last King of Porn, performed by Underluminal, an Italian theater group. 

With such a title, I thought I was in for a raunchy, over-the-top absurd performance. Instead, it was a suspense-filled drama and a raw portrayal of exploitation, societal ostracization, and manipulation.

The play follows King, a famous, seasoned porn actor who wishes to end his career with a bang, by setting a world record and performing the act with 100 women. One might wonder how this story would play out on stage. The recruitment process could result in as much of a nightmare as the real thing. Instead, our attention was directed towards three porn actresses and the King’s assistant, all eagerly awaiting their turn to partake in the making of this cinematic masterpiece.

As the hours pass by, the stars have only each other to help pass the time, and they slowly begin to question their own and each other’s motives for participating in such a spectacle. Are they in it for money, the publicity, or out of necessity? What is it that connects them to the King, and how did they find themselves tangled in the web that is the adult entertainment industry? They are questions people rarely care to hear an answer to due to the profession’s stigma and changes in the industry are often gradual and inconsistent. This lack of progress is not without cause. As the industry expands, so, too, does the pool of workers coming forth raising awareness about the lack of ethical practices. The Last King of Porn does not run away from these themes but makes them the focal point of the play. The questions are depicted through the eyes of the main characters: a runaway searching for answers, an obedient servant looking for recognition, and two devoted lovers turned sex workers.

As they await their turns, tension on stage erupts, exposing their intentions. Once these intentions are revealed, the plot unravels quickly, demanding your full attention. The play unfolds with twists and revelations, dancing between gritty, down-to-earth industry insight and melodrama. The Last King of Porn is a dense, dialogue-heavy play, so don’t let your attention wander during the 50-minute runtime. The dynamics between characters change quickly, and you just might miss it. Considering the whole play consists of three women conversing, I wish they played with their set design a bit more.  With some additional audio equipment, improved diction, and a larger stage to work with, I would be excited to see what Underluminal could perform next.

Author: Martins