After the saccharine-sweet holiday fare of December 2004, the newest theater year begins on a provocative note with a one-man show called The Underbelly Diaries. It’s Aaron Berg’s tell-it-all story feast and it promises to titillate the soul, mind and heart. The San Francisco Examiner tells it like this: “It’s obvious just minutes into Berg’s show that his best asset isn’t his ripped body; it’s his ability to tell a story.”

I conducted a phone interview with Berg who was in rehearsals and slightly under the weather. Toronto can be blistery cold in winter months so I tried to warm up the phone lines while chatting to the man who promises to bring his show to the Adams Avenue Studio of the Arts Jan. 7-22.

Gay & Lesbian Times: The Underbelly Diaries are based upon personal experiences that you’ve had during your so-called wilder heydays. Are these experiences still a part of your life?

Aaron Berg: Only in the sense that these experiences shaped the comedy within The Underbelly Diaries. That part of my life – at least to that extent – doesn’t exist anymore.

Aaron refers to the autobiographical storyline that includes stripping in clubs, sexual performances for private parties and sex for pay. Although frank and perhaps even disgusting to some, the show was recently nominated for best one-man show by the Canadian Comedy Awards.

AB: I would describe the show as graphic to funny, but I would say that the hilarity gets more intense as the show progresses.

GLT: How long have you been developing The Underbelly Diaries?

AB: For about two years. It started out as a standup comedy concept for Yuk Yuks (chain of comedy stores) and grew from that improvisational concept to a full performance piece for the theater.

GLT: After your performance in San Diego, does The Underbelly Diaries have a future?

AB: I’m working with a legitimate theater in the hopes of an extended run in Toronto itself.

AB: Most of the show centers on my experience as a stripper. From that stripping experience I started to receive offers for sex, from both men and women, and just went for the ride which lasted for about two years.

AB: We never talked about it much. However, by happenstance, my mother and one of my aunts – unbeknownst to me – visited the club where I was stripping. One of the few – or perhaps only comment made by my aunt to my mother was: “I don’t believe you actually diapered that boy.”

AB: I wouldn’t have gone on stage had I known they were in the audience. As it was, I never knew they had visited the club that particular night.

AB: No, it just developed over time. I had always had a healthy curiosity about sex, starting at about the age of 10 when I discovered my first stash of porno.

AB: I’ve had sexual experiences with both men and women and I would say that it’s an ongoing process. I’m open.

AB: There are probably few competing body builders who don’t use steroids to some degree. That being said, I don’t use steroids today. My workout – four times a week – can be described as a natural process.

AB: You never want to say “never” but right now my future plans seem to be moving in the direction of developing my acting and writing skills.

AB: I have a degree in philosophy from the University of New Brunswick.

AB: I think many shows find their base in philosophical issues, but when I am developing a show, I seem to paint a picture of that experience, conjuring up the sights and even the smells of the moment.

GLT: How would you describe the ideal audience for The Underbelly Diaries?

AB: I don’t think you can put a label on it exactly; however, the ideal audience might be early 30s with leanings somewhat narcissistic.

Aaron Berg assures us that his libido is great, even without steroids. He’s been clean for two years and at the age of 32, he sees his career moving into another direction. Aaron considers himself a professional actor/comedian, having recently acted in a show for cable called “Hate.” He’s working on his second one-man show called Planet Hollywood North about those struggling actors who must pay the rent by waiting on tables until stardom is found. He is also working on a screenplay. My guess is that we haven’t heard the last of Aaron Berg and I would encourage you to see his show if you have any interest in looking at an attractive, buffed dude who isn’t just a pretty boy. Still, in the end it looks like Aaron is still peddling his assets, but they include the ones both below and above the belt.

The Underbelly Diaries plays at the Adams Avenue Studio of the Arts from Jan. 7-22, Thursdays at 7: 00 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. For reservations call (619) 584-3593.