September 25, 2014

COCK -Written by Michael Bartlett - "The ultimate b*tch fight"


NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE
 ON VAN NESS STREET 








Welcome to the world of mixed metaphors. It's like a cock fight or a boxing bout? Oh well - you know how Birds of a feather are. 

John falls in love with a boy friend. He of course doesn't know what to do. He is bi-sexual at some moments, and at other times John wants to high tail out of town. This seems to be a one time only lapse. Decisions, decisions. So far, John had made four finale decisions. His closure is not exactly a real good time. 

His boyfriend's father weighs in - but doesn't help. Staging the piece in the round has its ifs and butts - if you know what I mean.

Staging the piece in the round has it's pros & cons. You see - you will be trodding on sand. It's like you are in a fighting arrangement in their barefeet. Yeh, that looks nice, but the boys turn to each other and mumble as they turn to other sides of the theater. It really is hard to understand actors mumbling in a strange accent when the boys turn their backs to the cast. 

All four actors give very strong performances despite the confines of the dirctorial conceits. The moral of the story? You just can't have your cock and eat it too. But - there are romantic sparks that light up the stage. There are some laughs now and then when you can hear the cast - then you get some swell revivifying breezes.

THE CAST IS WONDERFUL: 

John - Stephen McFarland. Todd Pivetti. Radhika Rao- Matt Weimer

COCK: Written by Mike Bartlett


THE PRODUCTION TEAM IS MARVELOUS

RATING: Three ***Stars - or ***Glasses of Champagne!!! 

STATS: 693 (this day) 
















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