There was a tangible air of anticipation as the lights dimmed at the start of Fucking Men at the gorgeous little King’s Head Theatre in Angel.
The anticipation was mainly down to a RATHER suggestive title, and a cast more aesthetically mouthwatering than Zac Efron shirtless in a jockstrap wrestling with Joe Manganiello amidst crashing waves.
ANYWAY I digress. Both the cast and title lived up to expectations. It certainly did what it said on the tin. The many and varied sex scenes were impressively unabashed and unapologetic, drawing a few gasps from some of the more prudish members of the audience. Even my friend and I, cultured 21st century Carrie Bradshaws as we are, were a little taken aback, glancing at each other with shocked glee when the first pair of pants was dropped.
But it turned out to be fair more than rippling pectoral muscles and pert bottoms (although they were very welcome bonuses). There were some real emotive moments, not to mention extraordinarily accurate portrayals of sexual encounters that most, if not all gay men would be able to identify with. There’s a wonderfully sensory aspect to the actors’ performances, many of the grunts and groans a hundred per cent reminiscent of one’s own bedroom antics.
Our fave was the playwright character, camping about the stage, flinging scarves over his shoulder and saying things like “I am…diminished!”. Incidentally, even accounting for all of the play’s notable one-liners that, for some, reason was our personal favourite. I almost spilled my Chenin. Fabulous.
Another highlight was the story of an older couple who had been together eleven years. They brilliantly acted – and the script brilliantly portrayed – the trials and tribulations that come with any long-term relationship, and more specifically a gay long-term relationship. Their interaction was at once sweet, emotional and slightly dark.
So yes, all in all the play reached a wonderful balance. Sweet, entertaining and rewarding, whilst still managing to be salaciously steamy. And really, isn’t that what we all want from our sex lives?
• Fucking Men runs at The King’s Head Theatre until 30th August at 7pm every day (matinees 3pm). Tickets from £15.
