BWW Reviews: COCK, A Love Triangle With A Twist

Sunday 8th February 2015, Old Fitz Theatre, Woolloomooloo

Mike Bartlett's 90 minute play, COCK looks at a different kind of Love Triangle with humour, emotion and passion as a man must choose between his long-time boyfriend, and the girlfriend he found at the bus stop.

Bartlett's writing and Shane Bosher's (Director) interpretation of the work brings the issues to the fore and does not dwell on things that don't really matter to the story such as names, set or props. It eventually becomes clear that John (Michael Whalley) is the central character but we never learn the names of John's Boyfriend (Matt Minto), girlfriend(Matilda Ridgway) or the boyfriend's father (Brian Meegan). Aside from clues in the costuming we learn little about the characters beyond their love and relationships unless it alters how they would interact with each other. Objects and even some actions are alluded to with words and proximity displaying the importance of Bartlett's words and the skill of the actors as food is prepared and wine glasses passed without the use of any corresponding action or John surveys his 'naked' boyfriend or has sex with a woman for the first time with looks and restrained hand holding and above the belt caresses.

The intimate space of the Old Fitz Theatre becomes even more personal with the presentation of the performance 'in the round' with the audience lining the walls of the stage as well as filling the traditional tiered seating. Time progression and location changes are shown through Michele Bauer's simple but effective lighting design that dims to red or green between scenes and the performance taking place under stark white lights.

Whalley and Minto's interactions work well and are quickly identifiable as a couple that have been together for a while as the story starts in the middle of an argument on John's cooking. The boyfriend, in more dominant buttoned down shirt and business slacks picks and teases and to an extent acts like the parental figure whilst the scruffier John, in jeans and flannel filling station shirt gets defensive until the boyfriend caves and claims that he only picks because he's really just a big 'love puppy'. The flashes of darkness open up to further conversations over a span of time where the tension builds and John finally articulates his concern that they are too different, they break up, John comes back to the Boyfriend, admitting that he's been seeing a girl. Minto's anger, disgust and disappointment is palpable as he spits out his disbelief that John wants "your boyfriend to help you with the women you are sleeping with" and his hurt that "you cheated on me with a woman". Whalley's confusion and his general lack of confidence shows as he stammers through expressing his emotions and desires

Ridgway plays the needy, somewhat imbalanced divorcee that John forms a friendship with whilst separated from his boyfriend. The two get to know each other, spilling out with nervous ramblings with John not being specific as to the gender of his former partner at the start but the Woman eventually knows that John is gay. There are signs that the Woman is trouble as she asks "would you ever consider sleeping with a woman". She fills John's head with ideas of a perfect life going to Paris, having children and growing old together despite her earlier protestations that she has had the marriage that didn't work and she was not looking for the 'Bridget Jones' romance of finding a man and being swept off her feet. Ridgway plays the girlfriend as sweet, loving, and very manipulative. The sequence between John and the Girlfriend is played out in the same format as the earlier interaction with the boyfriend whilst the conversations indicate the action fills the gaps in the timeline with the boyfriend.

When the three do come together for a dinner at the Boyfriend's request, the tension and emotion is high for both the girlfriend and the boyfriend, with John remaining detached. The Girlfriend's sweet façade starts to slip as she alternates between being condescending to the Boyfriend, wanting everyone to be nice and polite when the situation calls for anything but, and sweet talking and fawning over John in the attempt to ensure that he chooses her. The Girlfriend becomes more unlikable as she becomes more manipulative. The Boyfriend in turn belittles the girlfriend when he discovers she is a Classroom assistant, what he sees as a glorified babysitter, asking if it was stupidity or tragedy that caused her to end up where she is. Minto's portrayal of the Boyfriend is more endearing as his restrained love shows in his actions and his eyes, on the brink of tears and his facial expressions as he sizes up the Girlfriend and deals with the situation that unfolds are priceless.

The Boyfriend's Father is then added to the mix and Meegan, who has come into the role at the last minute as the actor originally cast to fill the role fell ill, and is therefore still on script, blends well with the group. The Father has a genuine concern for his son and wants to see a relationship between his son and John succeed. He also seems to be the only one that fully sees the Girlfriend's 'Bunny Boiler' craziness as she lashes out at him accusing him of sexualising her and accusing him and his late wife of being gay to counter his argument that being gay is genetic and John is gay and that he can't change that just because the Girlfriend wants him to change.

This is an interesting story, complex whilst being simple and thought provoking whilst being scattered with humour that breaks the tension. Whilst many love triangles are a woman deciding between two men, or a man deciding between two women, this change of a man deciding between a man and a woman, questioning his sexuality, his wishes for life, and his general relationship with each provides a much more layered situation.

Whilst the title, COCK, may be confronting, provocative or titillating, the story is not focused on sex but relationships and therefore even though the show is presented by Red Line Productions as part of the Mardi Gras Festival, it will also appeal to a much wider audience. Anyone with an interest in human interaction will be engaged by this performance. Anyone that's been in any form of a confusing romantic situation, those loves that you can't really let go of, that desire for the forbidden, or that need for companionship will find parts they can relate to in one or all of the characters.

COCK

Old Fitz Theatre

129 Dowling Street

Woolloomooloo

3 February - 6 March 2015

Tuesday - Saturday 7:30pm, Sunday 5pm

Photos: Tim Levy

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