“Satyricon” is a blast. Now, to be honest, I’m not sure I followed the plot very well. I’m not even sure I got the jokes. But, really, it doesn’t matter. “Satyricon,” as presented in San Francisco’s premier leather kink bar, The Eagle, in the heart of San Francisco’s designated “leather and LGBTQ cultural district” (the first such officially recognized district in history) is a celebration of cultural rebellion in a time of oppression. It’s queer as fuck, to put it mildly, and that is more than enough to justify its existence.
Playwright Bousel does not consider this effort to be lightweight. He writes in a program note, “Terrified and enthralled on the daily by what feels like an inevitable slide into fascism and chaos, I wanted to talk about the absurdity of still trying to achieve a coherent life and the radical defiance of discovering one’s own reasons to live. Or not live.” And queer sex. Lots of queer sex. And smut. And giant fake phalluses. And smut.
If the plot about a male couple’s bickering over their shared passion for a young prostitute (perhaps the original “Twink”) is confusing, it doesn’t matter. The characters and their ridiculous reactions to their longings to escape an oppressive town for someplace where they can be free (and have lots of SEX; don’t forget the SEX) are clear enough that it is easy to identify with them.
The cast can play physical humor with skill and grace. Raymond Harris, as the Ur-Twink, Giton, is winsome and winning, basing his appeal more on youthful innocence and charm than the usual gym body posturing. He’s wonderfully refreshing.
I found the acting style a bit pushed and at times overflamboyant.
But I didn’t give a damn. It was a relief and a joy to be immersed in the kind of queer culture that emerged in the 1970s and has all but disappeared in the 21st century. I was delighted.
It smells like liberation!
“Satyricon” continues to play at the SF Eagle Bar on August 11th and August 12th, 2026. For further information click here.
“Satyricon” continues to play at the SF Eagle Bar on August 11th and August 12th, 2026. For further information click here.
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Rating: *** (For an explanation of TheatreStorm’s rating system, click here.)
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“Satyricon: A Queer Comedy About Imperial Collapse” by Stuart Bousel. Very loosely based on the text by Petronius from the English translation by W. C. Firebaugh. Director/Producer: Andrew Calabrese. Playwright/Dramaturg: S tuart Bousel. Lighting Designer: Cornelius Green. Costume Designer: Manny Santos. Sound Designer: Larry Tasse.
Cast:
Encolpius: Jake Gleason. Giton: Raymond Harris. Typhaena/Psyche/Oenothea: Willow Hour. Trimalchio/Lychas/Quartilla: David Hyman. Eurnolpus/a Satyr/Triton/Priapus: Carl Luycania. Ascyltos: Jordan Ong. Fortunata/Circe/Vesta/Pennychris: Edna Mira Raia.
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