Cock Presented by The Larking House Theatre Company

Articles & Reviews

Reviews coming soon!

Audience Buzz

1. 

   An old friend and I went to see the play this past Friday, September 29th.
   The play’s title has multiple meanings. It was used once in the dialogue as “cock up” describing a problem in the relation with John, the main protagonist, and “M”, his long-time partner. “Cock” also refers to the male anatomy, which seems to be John’s motivating force. But it refers mainly to the conflicts that all the characters have with each other. They are in an arena, cocks in a cock fight. The fact that you had a spare stage surrounded by chicken wire with feathers strewn about the floor. Seats are made with wooden packing crates that could have held chickens at one time.
   Ramon Suzara as John was the main protagonist who was on stage for the entire intermission-less performance. A monumental task and a totally believable performance. John’s personality is a cypher, and there seems almost nothing about him that is appealing let alone something any man or woman would fight to keep. We know little about his past except that at University he came out as gay, was congratulated for his “bravery” and found himself fitting in the image of what his friends created for him instead of being himself. It made it difficult to sympathize with the character, although it was clear that many members of the audience did.
   Matt Caballero was an enjoyable “M”, John’s long-term partner. His character was filled with rage over John’s behavior, though he did not let any of it out except through bitchy comments and performance that happily avoided camp, which I see way too often in live shows.
   W was played by a very appealing Adriana Rodriguez Burciaga, who to be honest, I could not understand why she was in John. Was it physical? I liked that she honestly cared for John. I hope to see more from Burciaga in the future.
   There is a 4th character, F, played by Kelly Franett. He was, to me, the most fully fleshed character in the production—but it might be because we’re close to the same age! He has life experience. A widower, he had trouble accepting his son’s homosexuality at first, and then embraced it. He had experienced more personal growth than any of the other characters in the production and I’m sorry we could not have seen more of this character.
   In the end John makes a decision that forces him to retreat more and more into himself and loneliness. John doesn’t need be the hypotenuse in a love triangle with M or with W. He needs to find a relation with himself. He should have braved it alone for a while.
   The acting in this production was top-notch, as well as the lighting and costumes. The lack of scenery and props made it a challenge for director Lizzy McCabe to engage the audience, but she did a fine job, especially in the last part of the play.
   I did not care for the English accents throughout. I know that the play was written by a Brit, but I’m sure it could have been reinterpreted to be set in the U.S. The accents were fine. Kelly Franett seemed to lose his accent as the production came to an end, or did he not have one from the start? Or is he an American living in London?
   In all a good production. I’m looking forward for more from The Larking House Theater Company. Congratulations.

   — Steve Rosenberg