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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Engrossing, impressive, compelling
COCK at Dobama</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">(</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black">Member, American
Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Definitions
for the word <i style>cock</i> include: an
arrogant person, an adult male chicken who often controls a territory, a device
for regulating flow, a hammer in the lock of a firearm that insights action, to
tilt to one side, and is slang for a penis.<span style> </span>All of these explanations are relevant to the development of
Mike Bartlett’s brilliantly conceived script, COCK, which is now being
performed at Dobama Theatre.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">The story
centers on John, ironically the only person in the script who actually has a
name, though he is also the only person who does not have the ability to
identify who he is.<span style> </span>John is in a
long term relationship with M, but seemingly doesn’t know why.<span style> </span>He meets W, a divorced woman who is willing
to accept his bisexuality.<span style> </span>This creates
a love triangle, with John as the fulcrum, which has to be dealt with.<span style> </span>But John is paralyzed by indecision,
and becomes a self-volunteered pawn in a battle for his affections.<span style> </span>His conflict is not over whether he is
gay, straight or bisexual, but who of, “Who am I?” Interestingly, we don’t know
enough about John’s background to understand why he becomes frozen when
self-responsibility and decisions have to be made.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">As the
characters are revealed, the title of the play becomes clear.<span style> </span>M, John’s arrogant stock broker
partner, controls the roost, his expensive condo. <span style> </span>He regulates all within that territory, including John.<span style> </span>M incites reactions in John by
belittling his handsome boy toy and playing on John’s lack of ability to make
decisions that would change the status quo.<span style> </span>Everything is tilted in M’s direction, including their love
making.<span style> </span>Controlled, that is until
W enters their lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Bartlett sets
up the play as a battle. Corey Atkins, the play’s director, takes that lead and
places the action in a theatre-in-the-square, with the audience on all four
sides, much as in a boxing match.<span style>
</span>The characters each sit at a corner of the stage, like fighters about to
enter the ring.<span style> </span>Both M and W often
circle John and each other, sparring for an attack position, hoping for a
knockout.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Atkins’
direction is meticulous. <span style> </span>He understands
the script as well as how to bring out its concepts and undercurrents.<span style> </span>Each character is clearly etched, the
play is well paced, and pauses are wisely used to highlight the action and
inaction.<span style> </span><span style> </span>He creates scenes where nude observation
and even copulation take place while the participants are fully dressed and
don’t even touch each other.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Handsome Andrew
Gombas is both physically and emotionally perfect as John. At one point in the
action, W asks John what is his best feature.<span style> </span>He answers, “my eyes.”<span style>
</span>Yes, Gombas’s eyes are amazing.<span style>
</span>When he is unable to make a decision, he is like a deer caught in the
headlights.<span style> </span>His huge eyes become
blank, unmoving.<span style> </span>He stands frozen,
unblinking.<span style> </span>He becomes completely
mesmerized.<span style> </span>His mouth freezes in a
straight line, unable to open and speak.<span style>
</span>His anguish becomes the audience’s anguish.<span style> </span>When he does speak, there is strain and anguish in his
voice. <span style> </span>This is a very impressive
performance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">The dark
haired, sensual Drew Kopas, as John’s lover, M, gives a textured performance.<span style> </span>Slightly effeminate in his actions, his
underlying attack dog emotional swings, of strong negative devices to control
John, balanced by his desperate desire to hold on to the boy for whatever
reason—pride, needing someone to control, love--are fascinating to
observe.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Lara Knox, as
W, is appealing and creates a woman who is compassionate, yet, one can only
wonder what motivates her to want a man unable to make a decision or a
commitment.<span style> </span>Is she, in fact a
female cock?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Bob Keefe creates
in F, John’s liberal and affirming father, a man who has M’s best interests at
heart, but may, as W points out, have an ulterior motive in wanting John
around.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Their
clothing is ingeniously integrated into each character’s persona.<span style> </span>The whippet thin M wears high fashion
skin tight shirt and jeans, creating not only the picture of a well-dressed gay
man, but one who desires to create the perfect image that is reflected in his condo
and his beautiful boyfriend.<span style>
</span>John’s clothing, on the other hand, is bland, slightly oversized,
creating an illusion of someone who desires to draw no attention to himself or
his body, who wants to be swallowed up.<span style>
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">W’s sensual
red dress, accenting her physical endowments, parallel’s M’s wardrobe in an
attempt to create a character of sensuality.<span style> </span>F’s tweedy appearance enhances his liberal professorial
persona.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Though vivid
language is used throughout the show, it is so integrated and necessary for the
development of Bartlett’s themes, it becomes “words that create meaning,” and
nothing more.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0.1pt 0in"><i style><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></i></p>
<p style="margin:0.1pt 0in"><i style><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black">CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:<span style> </span>COCK, Mike Bartlett’s compelling
script, under the meticulous and creative direction of Corey Atkins, and some
of the very best acting seen on a local stage, is an absolutely must see
production.<span style> </span>It’s an A+
experience.<span style> </span></span></i></p>
<p style="margin:0.1pt 0in"><i style><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></i></p>
<p style="margin:0.1pt 0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black">COCK </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black">runs through November 23 at Dobama Theatre.<span style> </span>Call 216-932-3396 or </span><a href="http://www.dobama.org"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Palatino">http://www.dobama.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black"> for tickets.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Palatino"></span></p>
<br><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••</span><br><br><br></div>