Fresh off his critically acclaimed 2022 Edinburgh Fringe show, “Spanking the Monkey: The Etymology of Onanistic Euphemisms” (★★★★ - The Scotsman) Professor Richard Fondler returns to the hallowed halls of the Fringe to deliver a lecture on euphemisms for making love around the world. Whether you’re shagging in the UK, doing somersaults in France, kicking up the dust in Spain, or boom-booming in Thailand, you will enjoy Professor Fondler’s survey of international slang words for making the beast with two backs.

June 23, 2023    The TVolution.com

Shagadelic Review

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Dear Professor Richard Fondler (aka Michael Blaha),

Well, that was . . . interesting.

I’m referring, of course, to your one-hour lecture/performance with the catchy title Shagadelic: The Origins of Slang Words for Doing It. When I say “interesting” – which of course in the theater world is an often cringe-worthy word, depending on the tone by which it is delivered — I actually, really, truly mean Shagadelec wasinteresting. I learned so much about the etymology (the study of the true meaning of words) of the many, many, many slang euphemisms for sexual acts. And I like that you delivered your presentation with clever puns, witty asides, and occasional bad jokes.

Through your deep dive lecture, I learned that this unique slang family has roots in many countries and languages, sometimes dating back many centuries. Germany seems to rank high in countries of origin (given the hard “f”s in the language, this comes as no surprise). But you also pointed out the French bon mots —what other culture, but the Gallic, could come up with “la petite mort” (“little death”) for orgasm?

I wish I could go into detail on all your clever asides, your wry jokes, but because this is a public letter, I am restrained by vague notions of “decency,” whatever that means. However, I will share with you two of my favorite moments in your lecture.

For example, you say, to “nail” actually came from sailors’ payments to Tahitian sex workers with, for those in the South Pacific the much-prized Western piece of hardware. But, as you noted, that practice eventually stopped because the ships were falling apart. (Ba-da-boom.)

And the poetic, so-very-British phrase “amorous congress,” used primarily by the Georgian era upper crust when in public, reminded you of what could have been a love letter between Kevin McCarthy and Marjorie Taylor Greene. (Ba-da-boom again.)

I must say, Dr. Fondler, that you looked professorial indeed with your bow tie and jacket, which lent you an air of gravitas on a subject that lends itself to anything but. And you appropriately reminded us of the origin of “Shagadelic” – as in, Austin Powers’ “Shagadelic, Baby!” (Whether it was a party, a fun situation, or meeting beautiful women, the Mike Myers character loved to say this phrase.) Click Here For Review