Reviewed by Christine Pyman, Tuesday 7th March 2017
Stark reality, a chair, and a spotlight focus our attention on a spellbinding story which starts with a search for sex and a good night out, then develops into a search for love, friendship, support, and acceptance. This tale of the insanity of erotic love and search for eternal arousal, through manipulation of chemistry, ultimately becomes a search for salvation by those who love.
The Chemsex Monologues takes the form of a series of intense monologues which tell the story through fleeting glimpses into the lives of the main protagonists, The Narrator, played with such intensity by actor Richard Watkins, Nameless, the beautiful heart-wrenching twink around whom the story revolves, acted by Damien Killeen, Fag Hag Kath who was sensitively brought to life by Remy Moynes, and Daniel the Sexual Health Worker, shown with a touching innocence and humour by Richard Unwin.
These actors are all very experienced, from performances of Shakespeare, both on stage and film, to Rocky Horror on stage, and audio dramas for Big Finish Productions Doctor Who, and almost everything in between. Their experience shines through, as this is no play for amateurs, with the intensity of the beautiful language leading the viewers into the full-on rush of a driven lifestyle and the intersection of the intimacy of those who live it.
There is a heart touching sadness of familiarity to this story, with no judgment, just emotion, and understanding, achieved by the playwright Patrick Cash, and the performance by this cast is so outstanding that it felt as the audience had ceased to exist, that there was only the world of the performers.
Anyone who is familiar with the lifestyle that the play depicts will recognise the characters and the drama, and those who aren't will gain new empathy. This is a thought-provoking and necessary look at a niche part of our society and will stay in the minds of all who see it. I highly recommend this excellent show.
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