How can an improvisation play filled with sexual innuendos manage to talk about a serious issue? Through "Sex Signals," a traveling comedy production aimed at college students to address dating, gender stereotypes and expectations and date rape.
Two actors from the production, Kyle Terry and Amber Kelly, made a stop at UCF on Tuesday to perform different situations through a play. The duo has been a part of Catharsis Productions, creators of "Sex Signals," for six and eight years, respectively. The event, which was sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, was held in the Cape Florida Ballroom and drew an audience of about 50 students.
"We're going to talk about dating," Kelly told the crowd. "The good, the bad and the ugly."
With help from the audience, Terry and Kelly discussed the gender stereotypes men and women face.
The audience told the actors that ladies are supposed to be "clean, keep their legs closed and be virginal," while men are supposed to be "aggressive, suave and beer lovers."
The duo played out the descriptions of stereotypes, and a situation ensued where Terry's character put his hand on Kelly's leg, sniffed her and gave her an open drink.
"Girls don't want to be seen as a piece of meat," Terry told students after the first scene. "Guys don't want to be seen as a meat eater."
In one scene, Kelly and Terry acted out a scenario concerning the main question in a rape case: Was it rape, or was there consent?
Terry played a likeable, charming college student charged with allegedly raping a girl.
His character claimed that even though the girl whispered "stop," it wasn't a rape because she initiated the first kiss.
"There's so many gray areas in this case," Kelly said. She then encouraged students to voice their opinions.
Students' ideas varied: Some said the case was not a rape because the girl kept initiating foreplay; other students said if someone says "stop," it means stop.
When Terry asked how loud a rape victim needs to say "stop," one student responded that it should be louder than a whisper, like the play's scenario claimed.
"Not a whisper?" Kelly asked the audience. "What if a victim whispers, ‘I have chlamydia?'"
The response seemed to get the point across.
As long as you can hear someone, that's when it is or isn't consensual, Kelly said.
Aseye Ablordeppey, a political science major was an audience member during "Sex Signals."
Although her friend was the one who persuaded Ablordeppey to go to the performance, she ended up learning a lot.
"My friend said it wouldn't hurt to come, and I'm glad I did," the freshman said. "It was really informative in regards to dating and date rape, but it was also really funny."
At the end of the show, Kelly and Terry offered ideas on how to create safer sexual relationships.
They suggested supporting any victims who come forward and helping someone out if you see that the person is in an awkward and uncomfortable situation.
Terry stressed that getting consent from your partner before having sex is the most important step to take.
"You can't get consent from someone when they're under the influence of anything," he said. "When in doubt, get the hell out."
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