The inner workings of many a tainted partnership are laid bare in Tom Green's Talking In Bed at Theatre 503.
Tom Green’s punchy play, Talking in Bed at Theatre 503 oozes the sometimes uncomfortable truths experienced by bed-sharers, lovers and mismatches alike. This ‘fly on the wall’ production holds up the mirror to many a dysfunctional relationship and invites you into the depths of four (arguably) ill-fated pairings.
Audiences become unprepared intruders into the fears, desires and secrets encountered by these couples. The bedroom becomes a place of honest discourse and unrelenting openness laced with a sprinkling of sexual frisson. The cast breathes life into the stories, which admittedly tread a fine line between cliché and reality.
Couple one consists of two lost souls sharing a bed that appears to swallow them whole. Lying on opposite sides of the mattress, the couple attempt to inject some passion into their dwindling relationship. Couple two sees two gay gentlemen, a confession and a back-lash. A compromise goes awry, and bitterness creeps in.
The third couple is introduced via a high-energy ‘shagathon’. The woman’s (aka, commander in chief’s) screams of ecstasy are short-lived, and the couple’s ultimate agenda is revealed. And then finally, we’re invited into the world of couple four, Slim and Nadia, which features several ‘one-night stands’ and an overload of post-coital cigarettes. Throw a couple of recent exes into the mix and you’ve got the ingredients needed for one tumultuous cock-tale. Sorry...
The action is fast-paced and engaging. The cast demonstrate an excellent grasp of comic timing, and in addition successfully deliver moments of humbling poignancy. Good characterisation coupled with electric chemistry adds believability to scenarios that may at first seem clichéd, but are also appropriate and honestly reflective of a broad range of relationships.
Dan Maclane has to be credited for his outstanding performance – encapsulating the essence of his character, Slim: he's natural, expressive and very moving. Adele Lynch (Mandy) also delivers a great performance with spot-on characterisation that incorporates wit, energy, passion and commitment. The remaining members of the cast seamlessly create the sexual and emotional chemistry demanded by the text. The show is painfully funny, and I’m pretty certain the majority of the audience will find themselves nodding in recognition at certain parts of play.
Theatre 503 is the perfect setting for Talking in Bed, as the intimacy of the space compliments the intimacy of the drama that unfolds on stage. Sitting knee-to-knee in a packed full-house, one becomes fully aware of the proximity of flesh! The heat on stage radiates into the auditorium, and it is only through laughter that the embarrassment (on occasion) subsides.
Tom Green acutely observes the inner workings of many a tainted partnership, and awkward cohabitation. And that's not to mention those awkward fantasy conversations, and sometimes stagnant sexual episodes with the unknown surnames/first names. (not that I have first-hand experience or anything...!). Green exposes the naked truth – literally – and delves into the unspoken, unnamed and uncomfortable with ease and simultaneous daring. Go for giggle – but maybe don’t take a first date.
Talking in Bed runs at Theatre 503 until 15th January
Photo Credit: Ben Crawford
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