REVIEW | Afterglow, Southwark Playhouse Borough

Reviews

21 Jan

Written by Steph

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.

General warnings: FULL FRONTAL NUDITY, STRONG LANGUAGE, SCENES OF A SEXUAL VAPING HAZE, MOMENTS OF DARKNESS AND FLASHING LIGHTS.

Afterglow is an American tale of an open relationship between three men who explore and attempt to define the boundaries of their understanding of relationships. It starts with a literal full-frontal reveal of the cast cuddling and engaging in sexual intimacy for the first twenty minutes, with regular reoccurring nude scenes throughout. Although a very literal exploration of relationships, it was the scenes where the characters were fully clothed that gave the greatest moments of vulnerability and intimacy in the show.

The cast was absolutely phenomenal in their chemistry together. The intimacy coordinator has excelled with the cast to showcase the kind of physical interactions and body language a throuple might show. This was very clearly fully consensual and the cast were at ease and openly vulnerable in their dynamics. The characters comprised of staid, loyal Alex (Victor Hugo), his theatrical ‘puppyish’ husband Josh (Peter McPherson) and their sexual partner youthful and naive Darius (James Nicholson). Alex and Joan are happily married and expecting a child through ‘selfish’ surrogacy (the play’s passage of time is showcased through references to the pregnancy progressing) and their meeting of Darius, a decade younger lonely masseuse who is dreaming of a permanent partner. Although the show starts with all three enthusiastically engaging in an open relationship, it’s Josh and Darius who break boundaries and grow into a more profound relationship, which leads to devastating consequences for all involved.

The audience for this show was almost entirely male and this definitely highlighted the entirely male casts’ performance in an unusually powerful way. Their reactions to the script, including the powerful line of online dating creating an ‘paralysing illusion of choice’ and how ‘ relationships are a full time job’ was interesting and eye opening to how individuals view intimacy.

The set leans into the surreal feeling of this play. Its fully mirrored backing both literally exposed every angle and further emphasised that emotional transparency requires healthy forms of intimacy which is the core of the story. The minimalist furniture was used to great effect and the changing of lights very cleverly showcased the different places the plot takes place in, I particularly liked the stars effect to showcase an outdoor picnic. The use of the working shower in the middle of the set was also a fascinating metaphor for how well or not the relationships were unfolding.

Although some elements of the storyline felt uneven, at 90 minutes running time, the plot was tightly focused and the pace was strongly driven towards its shattering climax. This play at first glance would be easy to dismiss as showcasing negatives of polyamory but its actual focus is on the importance of open communication, trust and intimacy to have a healthy relationship. This play tackled these themes very well and in such a way that these themes are universal in their application. This play, although focusing on a very niche type of relationship in the LGBTQIA community, definitely is written well enough that it transcends boundaries to apply to almost every kind of romantic relationship.

Overall this play is a very strong addition to the theatrical ongoing conversation of polyamorous relationships and how to recognise and understand the importance of trust and open communication in healthy romantic relationships. If you’re interested in highly nuanced modern plays with profound dialogue, this is definitely a show for you.

At Southwark Playhouse Borough until 10 Feb 2024.