The comedy-drama premiered April 26, 1926, at Daly's 63rd Street Theatre in New York City. "Sex" received many scathing reviews from a variety of critics because of the play's moral implications. "The New York Times" considered it be a "crude and inept play, cheaply produced and poorly acted" while "Billboard" condemned it as "the cheapest most vulgar low show to have dared to open in New York this year". When the show opened, Broadway had been in a commercial slump, yet in spite of this and negative press, "Sex" played to full audiences. "Sex" was the only play on Broadway that season to stay open through the summer, into the following year.