The Ringwald Theatre’s ‘Cock’ Intimately Explores Sexuality
How big of an impact do sexuality and attraction have on your life? These aspects of our identity become a cornerstone as we enter adolescence and remain present throughout our lives, whether conscious of it or not. Human connection is essential to mental and emotional health, so to that end, many strive to find that special connection in which to spend the rest of their lives. There are many theories on the corner of sexuality and attraction, and it’s here under the street flickering street lamp at this junction that The Ringwald Theatre’s Cock has set up its stage for the world to see.
Written by playwright Mike Bartlett (King Charles III, Bull, The 47th), Cock provides an intimate look at someone deep in sexual exploration after living most of his life a certain way. There’s a richness in the source material, meticulously brought to life by director Joe Bailey and the cast of this production of Cock. This beautiful play shows that there’s no easy answer to anything in life, and there’s beauty in both falling in love and breaking your heart.
[Warning: Spoilers from The Ringwald Theatre’s production of Cock are below!]
John’s going through a lot in Cock
John (Stebert Davenport) thought he had everything figured out about his life, especially his sexuality. He’s identified as gay for as long as he can remember and has been in a relationship with M (Miles Bonds) for many years. However, his relationship isn’t everything he had hoped it would be. John and M constantly fight, with resentment building on both sides as they attempt to find some semblance of normal.
To simplify it, John isn’t happy in his current relationship, and honestly, who can blame him? Yes, there’s love between them, but having been together for so long, they both forgot about the spark that brought them together. A spark that John finds in the most unlikely of places, W (Grace Joliffe). Again, John thought he was gay and is now confronted with a new reality that perhaps his sexuality isn’t as fixed as he thought.
Falling for W is new territory with its own challenges. How can John find a new normal? Does he even want a new normal? He has to decide between M and W, which is amplified when M invites his father, F (Lindel Salow), to dinner. With a party of four, the stage is set for a real cock fight as lines are drawn in the sand. John stands to lose everything unless he discovers who he truly is, which builds until the closing moments of Cock.
The cast of The Ringwald Theatre’s Cock stands front and center
The Ringwald Theatre has never shied away from making some strong creative choices, which usually always pays off, and Cock is no exception. What’s striking about this production is that it’s in the round, which quite a few productions at this theater are. However, there isn’t much when it comes to set design. On the floor, a boxing ring is painted, which is the only piece in place besides the actors that gives any direction of what is going on. Instead, Cock relies on lighting and acting to carry it from start to finish.
The story is told in vignettes about John with both M and W, exploring unsequentially as we backtrack multiple times to discover more about John’s sexual awakening. The only way to know when a scene moves from one moment to another is a quick switch of a light, either a direction or color, and a change in the body and mannerisms of the actors on stage. This puts the show’s weight on the actors but also gives them all a spotlight in which to shine.
Stebert Davenport’s electric as the confused and indecisive John, giving Cock a charged energy that enveloped the entire room. Watching Davenport go from anxious to calm to angry and every other emotion in between was breathtaking, showing just how much control he has over his acting abilities. John isn’t an easy character to play, as he covers the entire gambit from the moment the show begins, but Davenport makes it look easy. There’s a quiet strength in his portrayal of John, who is struggling to find himself, which is incredible to watch.
Complimenting Davenport is Miles Bond, whose M volleys just as much as John. M is filled with love and rage, depending on the moment. He’s angry with the position that John has put him in but also doesn’t see anything wrong with the love and bond that they’ve developed. Bond’s range is magical to watch, giving me chills for various reasons. You can’t look away from Bond when he’s on stage, as he commands the room from his words to his movements.
However, the show would be nothing without Grace Jolliffe, who balances out the dilemma at the center of Cock. W is the flipside of the same coin as M, also commanding the room and vying for John. Where M is viewing his relationship with John through the lens of established years, W sees it through the rainbow of possibilities that it can be. She’s a strong feminine presence, which brings out something new in John, something he’s never had before. Jolliffe is strong in this role, bringing a calmness to the production, although that isn’t to say she isn’t ever angry or frustrated through this journey. She does so much acting through her eyes and facial expressions, conveying so much with so little.
Last, but not least, is the last to join the Cock party, F. It’s late in the show that he appears as a supposed voice of reason for John, who needs to decide between M and W. Lindel Salow has a presence that seems majestic in every sense of the word. The moment he walks onto the stage, it’s his show, and everyone is dialed in. Salow’s performance is chilling in just how calm his anger is as it escalates throughout the evening. He’s a raging storm underneath the surface, which is challenging to master. Salow is a strong presence in this show, which is saying a lot when the entire cast is a force to be reckoned with.
Don’t miss the final week of The Ringwald’s production of Mike Bartlett’s play
Cock is another strong entry in The Ringwald’s history of productions. It’s such an intimate show where no one can hide from the realness and emotions oozing off stage, including the audience. The name itself might turn many away, but what’s within Cock is nothing short of true theater, with The Ringwald nailing it once again.
Cock runs at The Ringwald Theatre until March 31, so get your tickets now! Have you seen Mike Barlett’s Cock before? Let us know your thoughts on social media @boxseatbabes!
Exclusive Interview: Stebert Davenport From The Ringwald Theatre’s Cock
