BWW Reviews: COCK by Mike Bartlett Takes Love and Sexuality Into the Ring

COCK, a comedy by Mike Bartlett, tells the story of John, a young man who takes a break from his boyfriend, and accidentally meets the woman of his dreams. This leaves John to grapple with self-identity, while still being deeply in love with both his partners. The problem is that everyone wants him to decide: Who is he? What is he? And what will his decision be?

Mike Bartlett's play tells the story of these three young people in scenes announced by the kind of bell you'd find at a fight...which is most appropriate, because the whole evening is a series of battles. Each scene begins with the characters in fighting posture. In the first scene, the two men even stretch and posture not unlike two fighting cocks. (More on this later...) Of the trio, M (for Man) is the most articulate and aggressive. W (for Woman) is a mix of assertiveness and vulnerability. And John... well, he doesn't know what he wants... other than to not be labeled. Is it possible to just be sexual?

The staging is exactly like one would expect for a cockfight... a round chalk ring, with spectators on all four sides. A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters (gamecocks) held in a ring called a cockpit. Two owners place their gamecock in the cockpit. The cocks fight until ultimately one of them dies or is critically injured. Historically, this was in a cockpit, a term which was also used in the 16th century to mean a place of entertainment or frenzied activity. William Shakespeare used the term in 'Henry V' to specifically mean the area around the stage of a theatre. Also, it's interesting to note that one definition of "cock" in British slang means "nonsense". And, to "cockup" means blunder, mess up or botch. What we are witness to is the human equivalent of a cockfight and all of those alternate meanings work perfectly to describe what happens.

Mr. Bartlett has a real gift for snappy, snarky dialogue and while the title seems provocative, the play is far from a shocker. c*ckis a sharp and witty study of the paralysis that comes from not knowing who one really is.

The play is highly theatrical in nature. Staged in the round with no set and no props, the four actors are on their feet the entire evening. Derek Kolluri's direction is electrifying and riveting. His touch is evident throughout the evening. He also has done one of the best jobs of directing in the round I have seen in years. And about those four actors... these are all dynamic performances. Zac Carr (John), Ryan Hamilton (M), Jenny Lavery (W) and Dennis Bailey (F) are all at the top of their game here.

Take the time to go see c*ckand be reminded that great theatre doesn't need lavish sets and flashy costumes. Great theatre just needs brilliant storytellers. These are some of the best I've seen in a while.

COCK by Mike Bartlett

Running time: One hour and 40 minutes with no intermission.

COCK, produced by Theatre en Bloc at The Off Center (2211 Hidalgo St., Austin, TX 78702.) October 3 - October 25, 2014. Thursdays through Mondays, 8:00 pm. Tickets are $15 - 35. Mondays are Industry Nights.
Reservations: https://secure.buyplaytix.com/theatreenbloc/reserve/cock.html

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