Katharyn Henson: ‘Stories From the Office of a Sex Dungeon’ Review by Belinda Filippelli
★★★★★
With a name like Stories From the Office of a Sex Dungeon, it’s hard not to be intrigued by Katharyn Henson’s show, in which she shares her experience working as a manager of a BDSM dungeon in New York City when she started stand-up comedy. As Katharyn enters the dark, sexy, and gothic stage of Teatro Metamorfosis, you may at first be surprised by her unassuming demeanor. Her hair is in a ponytail as she adjusts her oversized glasses. She looks more like a mom, librarian, or 5th-grade social studies teacher than what you would expect from someone who worked in a sex dungeon.
But when Katharyn introduces you to Denise, the name she used in a job where everyone has stage names—even the manager—you see how perfectly she fits the role. You soon not only fall in love with the wise-cracking Denise, but also with her whole cast of wonderfully flawed characters: the often sweet and sometimes sad clientele, the scantily clad or sweatpant-lounging ladies, and the owner whose biggest concern is fitting another obscure decoration into a playroom.
Katharyn shares one story of her attempts to get workers excited about giving a fisting to an annoyingly chatty client. In another anecdote, she messes with the intercom system to scare stragglers who have found themselves on the wrong floor of the building. Katharyn is a masterful storyteller who brings each character to life in all of their brilliance and flaws. A must-see show, this surprisingly warm-hearted tale will leave you smiling, feeling a little bit better about this world, whether the idea of a sex dungeon excites or scares you. Stories From the Office of a Sex Dungeon is a kind, thoughtful, and clever look at an often misunderstood and harshly judged workplace.
This review of Stories From the Office of a Sex Dungeon, written and performed by Katharyn Henson, was based on her Nov. 2, 2024 performance at Teatro Metamorfosis during the Barcelona Fringe Festival.
