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image Foreplay

Theatre Royal Stratford East
22 May 2009 - 13 June 2009

I figure if I get AIDS it won't kill me...a bullet will get me long before AIDS can (Soldier)
There is even a sexual style named after religion...Missionary position...I mean, why do you think God created pleasure...and then deny man to explore it. (Preacher)
The bottom line is...EVERYBODY IS A WHORE. (Prostitute).

It is clear indication from the poster of FOREPLAY, which depicts a young girl in the arms of a pastor with a face bathed in ecstasy while he is blowing a large bubble with his bubblegum that one should expect something rather sexual. Well, I went to the play blind, not knowing what the play was about and not seeing any posters until I got to the theatre. Excuse my naivety when I assumed FOREPLAY to be a play on words to mean four people in a play! Instead I was bulldozed with a cracking five member cast and ten character play filled to the brim with sex, sex and more sex.

As I looked around the theatre, and caught a glimpse of a few faces, I realised I was not the only one in complete shock when I witnessed the Thug turned Soldier ploughing his way into the Prostitute, who was bent over into the audience, screaming in delight. Some people, after seeing a couple more scenes of this nature decided to leave. “Their exit is not uncommon,” stated one of the actors after the shows performance. It seems that not everyone can handle the brash and raunchy scenes that are coupled with movements of dance. This was an innovative technique that helped to add fluidity to the scenes, and to break up the rampant delivery of sex.

So what is the meaning behind all of these loveless encounters? The director states: “What can be more fun than watching ten people having sex with each other, talk about nothing but crap and give each other STDs.” Personally I would not perceive it as fun as it carries a deeper meaning. Undoubtedly it is entertaining, but at most it is a harrowing and real aspect to society.

The play is set in modern-day South Africa, and is an adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde. Schnitzler's play is infamous; it was branded immoral because of its content. Just like FOREPLAY, what is demonstrated is the idea that sex can transgress the boundaries of class. At a glance, there is the Prostitute, The Preacher and the Politician; three people of different social classes. Yet what links all ten of the characters together is sex. With that, what we witness is a subject significant and important to all society, not necessarily to the South African. However, I did question the presence of Africa in the play, as the only indication were the accents of some of the characters and a few words and phrases in dialect. Yet I do not think this made the intentions of the play less impacting.

The merry-go-round of sex featured in la Ronde and adapted in FOREPLAY begins and ends with a representative of sex, a Prostitute. Addressed are the many types of corruption in society, moral, political and social. The passing of sexual disease is highlighted with the use of bubblegum and balloons. The inability to label a certain tone to the play, demonstrates that there lies an imbalance between humour and seriousness; and is the consequence to a mixed audience response.

This is a play that has to be seen. Whether you like it or not there is enough in the play to attract your attention and play with your emotions.

Written By Rachel Charles

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