ST. JOHN’S, CANADA – A Quebec porn star and stripper is facing a rather unusual charge in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Marie-Andree Lariault was charged in April with “immoral theatrical performance” according to section 167 of the Criminal Code.Lariault, who goes by the stage name Tangerine Dream, is candid about her profession and her performances, and has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

“It’s just theatre,” she says. “I’m an artist and I give out a sex show.”

Her show has stirred up enough controversy to get the town talking. Earlier this year in February, she put on what she called a “gang bang” with a sex toy at Bubbles Gentleman’s Club in St. John’s.

In what was described by witnesses as a “carnival-like” atmosphere, Tangerine Dream invited the crowd to line up along the stage and penetrate her with the sex toy. 177 men and women lined up to participate.

When Bubbles scheduled Tangerine Dream for a return engagement in April, the crowd was waiting for her, as were the police. She and a club director were charged with the violation, and the club was closed for the night.

Lariault is looking forward to her day in court, if only to use the publicity to legitimize her business. She insists her show is provocative, but does not cross any lines.

“There’s no contact whatsoever. No risks. There’s no sex, so there’s nothing wrong with it,” says the performer.

Not everyone in the industry is happy with having to compete with high-stake sex shows.

“If you want to be a porn star, be a porn star,” says Damanda Moore, Miss Nude Canada. [As] dancers, we get portrayed as being easy and dirty, you know, when people see that.”

Jody Temple, who owns the Cotton Club bar, feels that there is no room in St. John’s for mainstream erotic dance shows or Tangerine Dream’s X-rated cabarets.

“In the industry, there’s a whole class of dancers that are like that – they’re generally considered the freak shows,” Temple says. “It’s not the kind of image we’re looking to portray, and it’s not the direction we take at all.”

No comment was available from the Department of Justice and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

St. John’s Mayor Andy Wells refused to comment on the controversy, claiming the issue is outside the mandate of city hall.

“We’re not in the business of regulating morality. We regulate occupancy,” said Wells.