BACKSTAGE AT THE PLAYERS STARTS ITS SEASON WITH “THE COCKFIGHT PLAY”
(Adult Language & Situations)
Sarasota, FL–“Cockfight Play” is not the title of the terrific, tense little comedy by Mike Bartlett opening on November 12th in the Backstage At The Players space. Its real name, which is only one syllable, is not fit to be printed, and “Cockfight Play” is being used in most advertisements. The subversive nature of the title gives hint to the basic sentiment of the play—a tongue-in-cheek comedic commentary on relationships and sexuality. Although this play has attracted attention mostly for other reasons, there are moments when really beautiful language flows forth from Mike Bartlett’s pen. The New York Times called it, “a feisty, hypnotic and oddly energizing exercise in emotional carnage.” Staged in a primal fashion, there is no scenery, no props — just four combatants having at one another in ways both visceral and ritualized.
Story:
John has been in a stable relationship with his boyfriend for a number of years. But when he takes a break, he accidentally falls in love with a woman. Torn between the two, filled with guilt and conflicting emotions, he doesn’t know which way to turn. His boyfriend is willing to wait for him to make a decision, but so is his girlfriend. And both are prepared to fight to keep him. As the pressure mounts, a dinner with both parties is arranged, and everyone wants to know: Who is John? What is he? And what will his decision be? A comic discussion of identity and sexuality, the play is specified to be performed with no props or set, so the focus is all on the drama of the situation.
Tickets are $18 for single tickets to this play. For only $45, however, patrons can subscribe to three cutting-edge, contemporary American plays in the intimate black box setting of the Backstage At The Players space. The two remaining plays in the series are “Love, Loss & What I Wore” by Nora & Delia Ephron and “Doubt: A Parable” by John Patrick Shanley.
Performance Dates:
November 12-22, 2015
November 12th: Opening Night
November 12-14, 18-21 at 8:00pm
November 15 & 22 at 2:00pm
Tickets:
Single: $18
Subscribe to series of 3: $45
Cast:
John Joshua Brin
M Chris Hines
F Neil Kasanofsky
W Casey Kelley
Crew:
Director Michael Newton-Brown
Stage Manager Sara Logan
Technical Director Ken Junkins
Asst. Tech Director Alyssa Goudy
AVLE/Light Design Seth Berry
Costumes Kaylene McCaw
Set Design Michael Newton-Brown
The Players Theatre
838 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota FL 34236, 941-365-2494, Fax: 941-954-0282
www.theplayers.org. Box Office: Mon-Sat, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and one hour prior to curtain time.
The Players Box Office is located on Tamiami Trail between 10th Street and Blvd. of the Arts.
