Dirty Little Machine, The Vault

The note for Dirty Little Machine explains the play thus: "When Jane was 13, she read an old dirty porn novel about an uncle seducing his niece. It turned her on immensely and became the template for her future fantasies. In Dirty Little Machine, Jane decides to find the most fucked up degenerate and date him. The idea being that if she dates a misogynist porn-loving douche bag, her sexual fantasies will either be fulfilled, or she will renounce all disempowering fantasies. Become a real feminist."

Fantasies are usually taboo. Even if it's a small one like sleeping with your brother's wife. The mistake writer, Miranda Huba, makes is differentiating Jane from the boyfriend she refers to as The Weasel. In Dirty Little Machine, Jane paces the moral high ground giving a running commentary on her boyfriend's douche-bag-ness while agreeing every joyless scenario he suggests. These include threesomes, sex on camera, and the sexual exploitation of others. Neither misogynist nor feminist,  Jane embodies the trope that no matter how many times a woman says No, she really means Yes. Oh dear.

Ultimately, Dirty Little Machine is an everyday tale of sex addiction. Of the urgent need to keep moving, to keep pushing boundaries long after the pleasure has gone. As Jane, Kate Handford is charming and speaks beautifully. Ben Mann portrays The Weasel as a camp and overgrown teenager, barefoot in pink Hawaiian shirt and jeans. While he obsesses with the processes of sex, his girlfriend is confused by the politics of it. 

In conclusion: A long hour was lifted by lively stage direction from Roxy Cook who creates some lovely and very funny visual moments on David Allen's clever portable set. The piece is one of a number of shorts that make up this year's Vault Festival. It's an interesting space with great exteriors as well as interiors and any excuse to visit is good. 

Vault Festival, Leake Street, London SE1.  Finishes tonight, March 18