Cock – Review of 2025 Talk Is Free Theatre Production

Cock is the brash and highly suggestive title of Mike Bartlett’s play now playing at Artists Play Studio in the Carlaw Industrial Centre, Toronto. It is a fine, emotionally charged play that does not need the charged sexual reference of its title but so be it.
Cock is essentially about the fight for John’s soul, body and love. He is a diffident, indecisive gay man who is living with M in a homoerotic relationship for seven years. John (Jakob Ehman) is the only named character in the play. He is living with M (Mickael Torontow) and falls in love with W (Tess Benger), a woman. F (Kevin Bundy) is M’s father.
The play opens on a high emotional pitch as the sensitive John tells M that their relationship is not working out and they should separate. M is in love (with?) John and he tries to patch things up but, the real issue arises. John who has never been attracted to women had met the attractive W and had enjoyable sex with her. Sex with a woman and inherent indecisiveness can be a recipe for the breakup of a long relationship.
There are variations in the emotional levels of the discussions among the four people, but the high passions felt by them are intense almost throughout. The central issue is always John, what he wants, what he is and what can persuade or force him to decide who or what he is. The father, M and W try to get to John’s mind or soul or his identity to convince him to go past his indecision but no one can reach him.
Tess Benger has physical attraction and sexual allure to sway him but she is unsuccessful. Berger gives an intense performance in the role. M, a muscular man who does not understand what John is doing and cannot find satisfactory arguments to rekindle John’s love for him, gives a splendid performance.
Bundy as M’s father is a gruff, no-nonsense man who tries to mediate or perhaps push the situation forward in the face of John’s indecisiveness. Superb performance. All eyes are on on Ehman who struggles with his own crisis while buffeted by arguments from his lovers and the Father. A marvelous performance as a pathetic young man that is forced to see himself, his souls and come to terms with himself.
The play is performed in an empty space and acts like undressing and having dinner are mimed and the rest is left to the imagination.
The play is directed by Dylan Trowbridge who keeps an even keel as the arguments and high emotions come through. He keeps the arguments coming and never lets us take sides. A tough job well done.
The play is performed in the Artists Play Studio of the Carlaw Industrial Centre at 388 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto. You follow a red line for some distance and see a couple of dozen people in a hall. Where is the theatre? It’s a surprise, we are told. It is a room of about 15 by 30 feet (I am guessing) with about two dozen folding chairs in the perimeter. That is all and the seats and audience watching the performance. There are no other props except for several lamps that the actors turn on and off by stepping on switches.
Cock was first produced in 2009 at the Royal Court Theatre in London and has been revived many times in England and North America. The surprise is that no other company in Ontario had got wind of it until Talk Is Free Theatre produced it for us.
Cock by Mike Bartlett continues until May 2, 2025, at Artists Play Studio, Carlaw Industrial Centre, 388 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto. https://www.tift.ca/

Kevin Bundy, Michael Torontow, Jakob Ehman and Tess Benger.
Photo: Dahlia Katz

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