Review: YOCTOTheatre's COCKTALES Takes a Funny, Sensitive Look at Male Identity

Sometimes a total sausage fest can be a really good thing! Like in YOCTOTheatre's COCKTALES, an evening of storytelling and theatre all about -- you guessed it -- the penis. Honestly, I was a little unsure when I saw the description of this one: "Dink - Dork - Shlong - Dingdong - Swinging Fury - Jumbo or just good old fashioned peewee, it's finally time to hear from the real Commander in Chief!" But it didn't take long for me to get over my hesitation, and in the end, I thought it was both a great night at the theatre and an important show.

If you're thinking this sounds a little like a male version of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, you're right. It was after watching a production of that Valentine's Day staple that YOCTO's Sean Bowie got the idea for COCKTALES. To create the show, they put out a call for "stories about your dick," receiving around 75 submissions. The result is an honest exploration about what it means to be a man in our society.

Now don't get me wrong -- there are plenty of dick jokes. And you'll definitely expand your penis-related vocabulary ("burgundy homunculus," anyone?). But there are some very touching portraits of men's fears and uncertainties -- not just about size, but also about things like having a vasectomy and helping a father cope with the indignities that come at the end of life. One particularly poignant story (performed by Bowie) is about a man experiencing sexual dysfunction as a side effect of depression medication and the complications it causes in his new relationship.

Also -- original music! It isn't a musical per se, but there are some fun musical numbers, including a Naked Cowboy sketch. (The lyrics are in the program, so be prepared to sing along!)

Overall, I really enjoyed COCKTALES. It was fun, I laughed a lot, and I'm a sucker for a sing-along. But, more importantly, the play digs into issues surrounding male identity that I'd never considered before, not being an owner of the equipment at the center of these stories.

COCKTALES runs through February 21 at the Headwaters Theatre. Get your tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2484147

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