O Come, All Ye Thirsty: ‘Christian Slut’ Puts The XXX in Xtian
A stage set with only a wooden cross draped in lingerie, Christian Slut puts the sexual content right back into a Christian upbringing. The show is a one-person “confessional” (not the Catholic kind), written and performed by Erik Karklins, about their experiences as a self-identified slut while also being a devout Christian. They tease (literally) out the nuances between these two seemingly conflicted identities, critiquing restrictive religious doctrine.
Despite its provocative title and frequently x-rated content, the show is very sweet and heartwarming. Karklins largely recounts positive, mutually loving, and hot sexcapades from their youth, although they are overshadowed by the looming guilt and internal conflict based on their religious background. Interestingly, Karklins was not initially raised Christian, but they and their family became Christian when they were a preteen (great timing for puberty!). It would have been interesting to hear a bit more about how and why this happened, but Karklins (perhaps understandably) gets right to the goods.
The performance moves through four different relationships (or perhaps situationships) in Karklins’ earlier years, and how they contributed to their ideas around sex and sexuality. The different phases and stories are distinguished by monochromatic lighting, a neat touch that indicates each girlfriend based on their pseudonyms—green for Sage, pink for Rose, blue for Ivy, and yellow for Sunflower. This is a very effective way to distinguish the different stages of Karklins’ romantic and sexual entanglements, and also makes for some neat mood lighting. The set is entirely bare (aside from the cross), with just Karklins speaking—a naked and intimate setting suited to the content.
Karklins’ relationships traverse from bible camp in Ontario to bible college in British Columbia, and the different phases from high school to post-secondary paramours. It could almost be a show about summer camp, given the amount of (sexual) content occurring there. Although the show is relatively lighthearted, with Karklins often making self-deprecating comments about how naive and oblivious they were in their youth (highly relatable), there are several emotional moments that bring a seriousness to the romp through Karklins’ sexcapades. These serious chapters are clearly very raw and real for Karklins, and brought home the feelings of isolation and guilt that accompanied their “transgressions” from Christianity.
Karklins alludes to their queerness here and there throughout with funny asides, and mentions entering into the queer dating world briefly towards the end. It would have been interesting to hear more about this part of their experiences, but this chapter of their story occurred after they stopped being Christian, so to be fair it doesn’t quite fit in with the parameters of this performance (perhaps a part two?).
There is an overall sweetness to the show that is really charming, and Karklins seems to have a gentle understanding towards practicing Christians while being critical of prescriptive and harsh practices. I was expecting more of a provocative and profane performance, and while I’m still ready for that show, Karklins offered an appealing alternative.
‘Christian Slut’ played at the Grand Theatre in TK Fringe as part of the 2024 Kick & Push Festival. For more information, click here.
