by:Sandi Durell
Yes, that’s the name of this play from England currently at the Duke Theatre on West 42nd Street, which audiences seem to be enjoying. It’s a comedy-drama about John, (Corey Michael Smith) who is gay but seems to be having identity misgivings when he casually meets W (Amanda Quaid) – “W” for woman – and is attracted to her sexually resulting in an affair and more. John is living with M (Jason Butler Harner) – correct, male – but the relationship is strained and is being tested.
Set in the round in the utmost minimalistic sense, no scenery, props, in what looks like a stadium for a cockfight or boxing match, the actors verbally spar throughout the 90 minute production, delineated by a soft bell-tone that takes each scene to the next.
When John deems his affair with W more than likeable, even when chided by M, and asked to make a decision which way he will go, he cannot. This is an annoying, clearly dysfunctional characteristic – John’s inability to decide that drives both W and M wild, along with M’s Dad (known as F) the very pushy/pragmatic Cotter Smith, who has come to his son’s aid at a dinner party from hell arranged for the group for the grand decision making announcement. Now that he’s accepted his son’s gayness, he wants desperately to keep M and John together.
There’s lots of verbal abuse and loving moments between the couples. Even a sensual sex scene displayed between John and W as they move slowly around in a circular motion, talking the talk.
There’s a primitive sensation about the entire play, written by Mike Bartlett, as the dialogue is spewed quickly, sometimes incoherently, fragmented and in the moment as the British accents flow and fly. The characters are in an unending duel, as facades are stripped away, emotions raw, piercing words, like knives, irrevocably thrown.
And yet, lots of the dialogue is able to make the audience laugh – – the remarkable ability of a writer to see the humor in life’s tragedies. The play is directed with the swift, well-guided hand of James Macdonald. “Cock” continues thru October 6th.
