Broadcast Text Reviews: COCK and SOLICITING TEMPTATION

The following two reviews were broadcast on Friday, April 11, 2014, CIUT FRIDAY MORNING, 89.5 FM; COCK at the Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W. until April 27 and SOLICITING TEMPTATION at the Tarragon Extra Space until  May 4.

The host was Phil Taylor

(PHIL)

Good Friday Morning, it’s theatre fix time with Lynn Slotkin, our theatre critic and passionate playgoer. So what do you have for us this week?

(LYNN)

First a shameless plea for donations for our fundraising drive CIUT fm. is a unique radio station giving voice to our listeners when we cover the arts and film when other media don’t. And certainly with the recent job cuts to CBC radio CIUT’s contribution to the community is even more vital.

We interview the movers and shakers in theatre and those up and coming. We are volunteers here. We do it because we believe it’s important.

Certainly with the desperate need for a new transmitter the need for donations is critical. Time to let your voice be heard. Please donate now at: 416 946-7800 or Toll free at: 1888-204-8976 or on line at www.cuit.fm

Ok, I have two plays that are provocative for various reasons.

The first play has a title to stop you in your tracks and makes me wonder if I can say it on radio.

And the second one is entitled Soliciting Temptation and is about child-sex in a developing country.

Let me go back to the first play. It’s written by Mike Bartlett, a brash British playwright. The title is often considered as slang for part of male genitals. Or in this case a male bird.

In other words the title is Cock. Let’s all exhale. It’s produced by the spunky Theatre 180.

(PHIL)

Ok let’s be brave. What is Cock about?

(LYNN)

It’s about a young man named John. He has been in a long term relationship with a man identified only as M (M for Man). It’s the end of the relationship. John says that there is too big a gap between them as people.

Then John meets W (a woman) and is charmed by her and how he feels in her presence.They consummate their relationship. This is a whole new world for John. It’s intoxicating being with her. But he’s still conflicted with his relationship with M. When M hears about this woman in John’s life,  he wants to meet her. He also wants to fight for John.

So now we have this interesting dynamic. Both M and W are clear in their skins about who they are and what they want. They both want John. And they certainly don’t want to share him.

John on the other hand sees that he has a great relationship with W. He recognizes that M has put him down, is sometimes overbearing, but he also sees that he was happy there too. They want him to choose.  He can’t. Why does he have to? An interesting dilemma.

You could say that by not being able to choose John has created a great cock-up in both relationships.

(PHIL)

Does the analogy of a male bird work here?

(LYNN)

I think Mike Bartlett is just getting in our faces by naming his play in a way that can be misunderstood as being about a part of a man’s anatomy.

I don’t think it’s about putting anyone’s sexuality in our faces. I don’t get the sense with either man that they are parading like a cock of the walk.

When you get past the title, it’s a wonderfully provocative play about sexual preference turned on its head when choice and curiosity come into play.

John never thought in terms of sex with women. He is gay and his preference is to be with a man. But then he meets W. She’s charming, funny, does not put him down like M did. And she’s attracted to him. There is a sexual charge between them.

And I love how Bartlett looks at the relationships in their different ways. And how absolutely confused John is with the pressure of having to chose who he wants. Bartlett throws out the intriguing notion that

John can’t choose. He sees something attractive in both instances.

(PHIL)

How’s the production?

(LYNN)

Terrific. Even here Bartlett doesn’t make it easy. He says in one stage direction that there is no scenery, no props, no furniture and no mime. And that’s all there are of stage directions. Sometimes there is no punctuation in the text.

So to bring off this difficult show, all concerned have to be on their toes and this company is on its toes. Especially the director Joel Greenberg. He has to figure out how to convey all there is to convey with his cast, when there are no directions, props but subtle clues.

The set (by John Thompson) is a square playing area of light green. The audience sits in seats on risers but the people in the front are also on the stage level. The square is a boxing ring without the ring.

It’s not the set for a cock fight—which goes to the death. But it does involve sparring and manoeuvring. A bell announces scenes. Actors take various positions in the square sometimes approaching sometimes not. There is no physical violence. In fact the characters rarely touch and it’s almost startling when they do.

One scene in particular is stunning in its inventiveness and intimacy. When John and W are about to have sex they are on opposite sides of the square. Slowly they take small steps side-ways, going counter-clockwise around the square, while talking.

The circle they are forming with their small steps gets smaller and smaller, until they are practically nose to nose, still taking the small steps circling each other. They don’t kiss. It is so sensual. The scene is created with economy, spareness and tremendous invention.

(PHIL)

I would think the actors would find this challenging.

(LYNN)

And they too rise to the occasion. As John, Andrew Kushnir is compelling. His reactions are so intense and in the moment. This is a character genuinely unable to make a difficult decision. He’s not confused, he just has a choice he can’t make. He is compelling.

As M, Jeff Miller is a mass of energy, conviction, and daunting directness. M is not a bully but he is frustrated because he wants John and John is not giving him the answer he wants.

As W, Jessica Greenberg has a different conviction than M has, more graceful, not pushing but still trying to convince John to go with her. She has sized up the situation when she is invited to dinner at M’s house. She will not be cowed by this guy.

And to complicate matters, M has invited his father, F, for support. F is played by a very confidence compassionate Ian D. Clark.

Cock is being given a terrific production.

(PHIL)

And now for something provocative in a different way, Soliciting Temptation.

(LYNN)

Written by Erin Shields. This is a gifted writer. In other works she has shown she has wit, intellect, imagination and a wonderful ability with words.

According to the press information she tackled this subject because she was incensed with the rise of child sex tourism in developing countries and the play then delved into the notions of power, between young and old, male and female, rich and poor.  

(PHIL)

What’s the story?

(LYNN)

A man is in a seedy hotel in an unnamed developing country. It’s sweltering and he’s sweating. A knock at the door. It’s a young girl in a green sari like outfit. He is stunned by how young she looks and keeps asking her how young she is. She is silent and demure. He towers over her and is probably 100 pounds heavier than she is. He seems awkward and insecure but gentle in a way.

Perhaps nervous that she’s silent he rambles on about himself—he works for 5 star hotels showing how to economize, but he stays in sleazy ones. He waxes philosophical.

Then she speaks and she is formidable, commanding and in control. He’s startled. He’s obviously arranged for her to come to his room for sex. They wrangle about the culture of seeming to condone sex with minors or at least young teens. She spars with him about what the poor have to do to make a living. She threatens to report him to the police. He is terrified. He’s married and has a daughter.

Then he tries to present himself as not just looking for sex with a minor,  but a tender man who will gently open up a sexual world for her.

(PHIL)

What do you think of that thought?

(LYNN)

I’m mystified. Truly, I don’t know what Shields is trying to present here other than the obvious. While her writing, and certainly Andrea Donaldson’s direction, is sensual and erotic when the man is showing the girl how he would lead her into sex, I don’t for a second believe his esoteric musings of wanting to show her gentleness.

He’s a big guy getting his jollies having sex with girls.  His fantasy of why he is doing it is ridiculous and irrelevant. What also is a mystery is who she is? He surmises that she’s not from that city. She is not a prostitute. Who is she? I think not knowing creates a hole in the play.

I found Soliciting Temptation to be confusing in intention and point. That said the acting is stellar.

I don’t think there is a better actor for this kind of man than Derek Boyes. Boyes has a courtliness and awkwardness that is disarming. He’s nervous. He’s desperate. I can believe him when the man creates this whole fantasy for himself. I just can’t believe the situation in the play.

And as the girl Miriam Fernandes is confident, in control, coy and manipulative, but also with her own insecurity.

I just wish the play was clearer in its intention.

(PHIL)

Thanks Lynn. That’s Lynn Slotkin, our theatre critic and passionate playgoer. You can read Lynn’s blog at Slotkinletter.com Twitter @slotkinletter

Cock plays at the Theatre Centre 1115 Queen St. W until April 27.

www.studio180theatre.com

Soliciting Temptation plays at the Tarragon Theatre Extra Space until May 4

www.tarragontheatre.com