Actor’s Theatre patrons were treated to preview performances of In The Next Room or the Vibrator Play this past weekend and the reviews I have heard are favorable. I have also heard many people commenting that they feel the topic of the play is rather unusual - The use of the first vibrators for treatment of female hysteria.

Suprisingly, it has become a very popular topic over the past few weeks.

Actree Maggie Gyllenhaal recently hosted an episode of Curiosity on the Discovery Channel dedicated to exploring the topic of the female orgasm. She started with the know history behind producing them, and then went through the science of the orgasm. All of it very intersting and while titilating to this viewer, it was very educational.

Now some of you are wondering why Maggie Gyllenhaal was the narrator. Well, staying with what a few thought was the odd topic of the play, she has a movie coming out called Hysteria, and guess what the topic is – that’s right, the treatment of female hysteria, and the first vibrator. Is it a ripoff of Sarah Ruhl’s work. I have no idea, but go see In The Next Room or the Vibrator Play, and when Hysteria comes out go see it. You be the judge.

This is not a new topic though. There have been books such as, The Technology of Orgasm: “Hysteria,” the Vibrator, and Women’s Sexual Satisfaction by Rachel P. Maines that covered to subject. Documentaries like Passion & Power: The Technology of the Orgasm cover the subject extensively, as well. Just look for them.

The secrecy, mystery, and seemingly elussiveness of the female orgasm is slowly losing its unobtainable and unknowable aura.

Come and see In The Next Room or the Vibrator Play. You may laugh and you could learn something. It makes for a evening of culture with a twist, and maybe a little something more behind closed doors once you get home. Wink Wink