A new show: Hurt So Good
Hurt So Good: a romantic tale based on the beginnings of an S&M relationship. It’s funny, erotic, dramatic, and educational. It’s a love story. But why this story, and why now?
It’s a piece focusing on an alternative lifestyle that, believe it or not, isn’t all that alternative. By that I mean most people have at one point engaged in BDSM (an umbrella term for “bondage & discipline; dominance & submission; sadomasochism”) activity in their sex lives. No, not everyone is a die-hard member of this subcultural community but ya don’t have to be on a major league team to play baseball.
This is a story that’s able to shed some light on a very dark topic. Most people have heard about BDSM (or at least S&M) but it seems most have questions and yet never ask them. Or at least never ask people who have the right answers. I cannot tell you how many people have visited a website or rented a dvd (after summoning up the courage to walk through the bead-draped doorway to that ‘forbidden section’ of their local video store) and assumed that the fiction/fantasy they’ve found is fact.
And I’m not a fan of the current political agenda of anti-education. It’s an American age of “let’s get back to family values.” And how is that being implemented? “Let’s just not talk about any of the undesirable topics, like sex and sexuality, and let’s not ask any questions. Ignore it and it will all go away. Until you’re married. Then you’ll just magically know everything.” Um… What?
It’s a tricky thing, though, to create a piece that’s educational without being preachy, erotic enough without alienating the average audience member, yet still appealing and entertaining enough to those in the subculture.
Keep in mind, this isn’t meant to be - nor am I attempting to make it - an A-Z guide of everything the subculture has to offer! This is but ONE relationship in ONE particular style. Think about it people: Every relationship is different no matter what culture, subculture, lifestyle or sexual preference you’re into.
Is this a personal story? I think every piece a playwright creates is personal. Is this autobiographical? There will always be snippets of personal experience in what I write, surely. But this is a work of fiction. This isn’t a journey I’ve been on personally but it is a story that will have a lot of moments that will ring true to a lot of people. Act One is a lighter, funnier romp peppered with stumbles and foibles. Act Two is the dark shadow the lighter Act One casts, dealing with the more devious and dangerous aspects that always seem to grab society’s attention (which they then twist to their daily-talk-show-loving delight).
What do I hope will come of this? I hope people will laugh, I hope those in the subculture will smile and say “I remember being in that situation.” I hope those that know nothing about BDSM will have some questions answered. I hope it will raise more questions and that people will feel comfortable enough to find the answers.
Of course, fortune and fame wouldn’t be SO bad…
It’s a piece focusing on an alternative lifestyle that, believe it or not, isn’t all that alternative. By that I mean most people have at one point engaged in BDSM (an umbrella term for “bondage & discipline; dominance & submission; sadomasochism”) activity in their sex lives. No, not everyone is a die-hard member of this subcultural community but ya don’t have to be on a major league team to play baseball.
This is a story that’s able to shed some light on a very dark topic. Most people have heard about BDSM (or at least S&M) but it seems most have questions and yet never ask them. Or at least never ask people who have the right answers. I cannot tell you how many people have visited a website or rented a dvd (after summoning up the courage to walk through the bead-draped doorway to that ‘forbidden section’ of their local video store) and assumed that the fiction/fantasy they’ve found is fact.
And I’m not a fan of the current political agenda of anti-education. It’s an American age of “let’s get back to family values.” And how is that being implemented? “Let’s just not talk about any of the undesirable topics, like sex and sexuality, and let’s not ask any questions. Ignore it and it will all go away. Until you’re married. Then you’ll just magically know everything.” Um… What?
It’s a tricky thing, though, to create a piece that’s educational without being preachy, erotic enough without alienating the average audience member, yet still appealing and entertaining enough to those in the subculture.
Keep in mind, this isn’t meant to be - nor am I attempting to make it - an A-Z guide of everything the subculture has to offer! This is but ONE relationship in ONE particular style. Think about it people: Every relationship is different no matter what culture, subculture, lifestyle or sexual preference you’re into.
Is this a personal story? I think every piece a playwright creates is personal. Is this autobiographical? There will always be snippets of personal experience in what I write, surely. But this is a work of fiction. This isn’t a journey I’ve been on personally but it is a story that will have a lot of moments that will ring true to a lot of people. Act One is a lighter, funnier romp peppered with stumbles and foibles. Act Two is the dark shadow the lighter Act One casts, dealing with the more devious and dangerous aspects that always seem to grab society’s attention (which they then twist to their daily-talk-show-loving delight).
What do I hope will come of this? I hope people will laugh, I hope those in the subculture will smile and say “I remember being in that situation.” I hope those that know nothing about BDSM will have some questions answered. I hope it will raise more questions and that people will feel comfortable enough to find the answers.
Of course, fortune and fame wouldn’t be SO bad…
posted by Johnny Blaze at
2:17 PM
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