Mike Barlett's BULL at Brits Off Broadway

If you, like me, were blown away by COCK- The Cockfight Play last year, then this is exciting.
.

(from the Sheffield Theater UK promo)

Mike Bartlett's BULL, the companion piece to last season's Off Broadway hit Cock, is added to the Brits Off Broadway line up

New York, New York March 4, 2013—59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to announce playwright Mike Bartlett's (Artefacts in 2008) return to Brits Off Broadway with the US premiere of BULL, which just ended a successful run at the Crucible Studio, Sheffield.

Directed by Clare Lizzimore, BULL begins previews on Thursday, April 25 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 2. Opening Night is to be determined. BULL is produced by Sheffield Theatres.

Called "Lord of the Flies in sharp suits for grown ups" (Yorkshire Post), tickets for BULL go on sale on Friday, March 8.

Two jobs. Three candidates. This would be a really bad time to have a stain on your shirt… Written as a companion piece to last season's Off Broadway hit Cock, BULL is a razor sharp play about office politics; or playground bullying – depending which side you’re on.

Presented by 59E59 Theaters, Brits Off Broadway launches on Wednesday, March 27 and runs through Sunday, June 30.  The single ticket prices range from $25 - $70 ($17.50 - $49 for 59E59 Members). Tickets to Brits Off Broadway are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or online at www.59e59.org. For more information on Brits Off Broadway, visit www.59E59.org or www.britsoffbroadway.com. ###

London Transfer "Cock", Is a Great Play

The new show at The Duke Theater on 42^nd Street, Cock, is amazing.  At the risk of oversetting expectations, it is a great show - funny and thoughtful.  

The play is self-described in the following way:

 “When John and his boyfriend take a break, the last thing he expects is to suddenly meet the woman of his dreams. Now he has a big choice to make. Don't miss the American premiere of COCK, the gripping new play by Mike Bartlett. James Macdonald (Top Girls, Dying City) directs this Olivier Award-winning production from The Royal Court Theatre”

It is an interesting premise and it explores not just sexuality, but what the impact is on those you are involved with. Cory Michael Smith does a stupendous job as “John”, the young man at the center of this story.  John is a charming mess of a person, unable to commit to anything, even being bi-sexual.  The story starts with John’s gay relationship.  The couple seems reasonably well adjusted, with cute, sit-com mannerisms that usually demark “quirky” rather than a flawed relationship.  But John does find it flawed, and the relationship ends. When it picks up again, John admits to having sex with a woman.

Jason Butler Harner, Amanda Quaid & Cory Michael Smith in Cock

The action then transfers to the relationship between John and the woman.  How they meet, how they have sex, and what comes next.

John’s lovers are played by Jason Butler Harner, the Man and Amanda Quaid, the Woman.  Mr. Harner plays the Man as a very together gay man, quick witted, funny and self-assured.  All of that is proven to be false bravado when John returns, after being with a woman.  Anger and self-doubt begin to drive him after John’s transgressions.  As for Amanda Quaid, she is very good, while stuck with a difficult role.  Wanting to change a gay man is a common theme, but what happens when you get one – and he is still gay.

The fourth cast member is Cotter Smith - who plays the role excellently, but I don’t want to spill too much of the story – so you have to take my word for it.

James MacDonald stages this intimate play in a exceedingly intimate venue.  The Duke has been transformed into a steeply stepped theater in the round.  The audience watches Cock as one would watch an actual cockfight; when you look away from the action for a moment, you are facing other theatergoers in a voyeuristic experience.  It serves the playwright, Mike Bartlett’s, words wonderfully.

Cock is in for a limited run at The Duke, do not miss it.

------

Jason Butler Harner & Cory Michael Smith

Cock @ The Duke Theater

Playwright: Mike Bartlett

Director: James Macdonald

Cast: Jason Butler Harner, Amanda Quaid, Cory Michael Smith, Cotter Smith

Website