BWW Reviews: 50 SHADES THE MUSICAL is Trashy, Tacky, Wicked and WONDERFUL

50 SHADES THE MUSICAL is an interesting snapshot of people who live alternative lifestyles. In this case, it is the BDSM lifestyle. To make it simple, this crowd comprises the people who enjoy being slapped around, plus their dominant partners who beat them.

The conceptualization of torture for fun is beyond my realm of understanding, but there are over 700 people in the Detroit area who are seriously into it, according to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michiganbdsmsocialclub/ . One of my friends is familiar with that scene, so I took her with me to get a take on her perceptions.

Mary thought the musical was cute, not very graphic, and was just risqué enough to excite the suburban white women who were weening themselves off romance novels. Mary found it rather mild - she attended an actual BDSM wedding ceremony in a "dungeon" near Eastern Market where a dominant groom married his submissive slave. During the ceremony of holy matrimony, the bride was hoisted to the ceiling with chains and became the human piñata. There were no piñatas in 50 Shades The Musical, however there was a Latin lover played by a very white geek.

I'm not into pain, so BDSM does nothing for me. But fortunately, I have a really warped sense of humor and just enough white trash genes to find the show hilarious. Ludicrous, but hilarious. The musical takes ridiculous passages from the book and turns them into outrageously absurd vignettes.

I met one of my students in the Fisher Lobby during the show; Frank said his wife read the book and the main domination character was portrayed as suave, sexy, tall, hunky and highly desirable. The character in the musical was a short, obese Asian dude wearing some sort of tight, red mankini - revealing a dearth of assets. When it came to down to numbers, this man apparently drew the shortest straw.

There were folks with good taste who fled the show during intermission, but fortunately, it left more elbow room for us rough and tumble folk. The show was trashy, tacky, wicked and WONDERFUL! The music was fabulous, the actors were hysterically funny, and the plot was unique, to say the least.

I would recommend this show to the devoutly religious conservatives who believe sex between one man and one woman is the only acceptable and moral form of relationship. I would have enjoyed seeing the story line end in a BDSM wedding, so they who believe same-sex marriage destroys the sanctity and righteousness of their holy unions might have another bragging right to place upon their list.

I'm not one to judge other people, so if BDSM floats your boat, go for it. As they say, "Different strokes for different folks" (literally, that is). I would hazard to guess that The Queen of England wouldn't be caught dead at a show like this, but suspect Prince Harry or Fergie, The Duchess of York would have a ball.

50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL comes for the first time to Detroit at the Fisher Theatre, June 14 - 16. Tickets are now on sale at the Fisher Theatre box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 1-800-982-2787, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Lead Performer in a Play - Top 3

1. Daniel Radcliffe - Every Brilliant Thing

29.6% of votes

2. Nathan Lane - Death of a Salesman

12.4% of votes

3. Ayo Edebiri - Proof

6.7% of votes

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