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Julia Rorke: Jeneane's Kinky Room of Astrology and Ciggies

A late-night show that's high on imagination but just too chaotic
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Julia Rorke: Jeneane's Kinky Room of Astrology and Ciggies

A late-night show that's high on imagination but just too chaotic

You've got to admire Julia Rorke's chutzpah, committed as she is to her tale of sex and horoscopes despite her audience being a quietly sober five people. Rorke plays Jeneane, a green lycra-ed astrology obsessive with an equivalent infatuation with sex. Leaping animatedly about the stage, Jeneane swivels between an overly-confident host and unhinged mad woman. There's a personalised astrological reading for a lucky pair of audience members, an advocacy of fisting plus a little bit of childhood and adulthood background giving depth to Jeneane's hopes and dreams.

While the show is obviously meant to be chaotic, this original and other-worldly idea lacks direction to its ultimate detriment. Although structured into segments with lighting cues, music and an array of personae and voices, it's hard to tell at any one time exactly what's going on. Rorke has the astrological jargon off pat and there are the random and frequent sexual references. But all this feels like filler, smothering for no reason the semblance of narrative that attempts to emerge.

Consequently the show wanders aimlessly and finally becomes lost. Julia Rorke is an intriguing performer and it feels as though this would have benefitted from a rewrite. There's a wild imagination at play here but on this occasion it might need breaking in somewhat.

Underbelly Cowgate, until 24 Aug, 11pm, £10–£11 (£9–£10).

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