Cock

Event: “Cock” by Buds Theatre Company
Venue: Drama Centre Black Box
Run: 10th – 13th May ’12
Written by: Mike Bartlett
Directed by: Rayann Condy
Cast: Walter Hanna, Koey Foo, Rebecca Lee, Ray Condy

“Cock”, the word, may refer to many things. For one, it might make reference to the sexuality context as presented here. However, on another level, it can seem more like a reference to a wakening, or a call to listen up.

The play was all about John (Walter Hanna), a man caught between deciding whether to return to his ex-boyfriend or building a new life with his new girlfriend. Suddenly confused if he’s straight or gay (or maybe bi-), it is about a man’s journey of self-discovery, not just his sexuality, but about who he is. With the boyfriend (Koey Foo), he is in an almost oppressive relationship where he plays the “child”. But with her (Rebecca Lee), he matures and is allowed to take charge, where he discovers he could be something more. I guess in a relationship, it’s really about how someone brings something good out of you, no matter who it is.
Repeatedly, John is questioned about finding out what or who he is, although I think the “what” and “who” one is can be different. What you are or do doesn’t necessarily define who you are. It is who you are that defines what you let yourself be or do. Or maybe that’s the whole point? (I don’t know if this makes any sense)

One of my first thoughts during the show was “that’s quite a lot of talking/conversation going on”. So it would make for a rich script dealing with modern issues and conflict. One can’t decide if you should take John as a two-timing selfish guy who wants the best of both worlds, or the confused lost boy who doesn’t know what to do when caught in-between. However, a decision had to be made, and it was back to the old, or was it really? Even as John’s boyfriend had “won” him back as a “trophy” as John terms it, you know it won’t be the same; with his defiance at the end (about the cushion and lights), you sensed that he might have found a part of who he is, and maybe, just maybe, the future would be at his own terms.

An occasional light humour surfaced from time to time, and though the actors brought emotional and conflict points forward, maybe it could have been pushed a bit further. As I said, I felt there was a lot of “talking” going on, so I could be missing something there.