Horse Play - Directed by Zoe Tomaras - The Bandstand
Have you ever wondered what it might have been like for the fellas in the Trojan Horse?
The hours of waiting, the anticipation of what will be there for them on the other side? All of them, sitting in solidarity with their very best mates and maybe… their worst enemies?
If the answer is yes, I have and always will be thinking about what went on in the Trojan Horse, then look no further than the drag comedy, Horse Play, created and directed by the wonderful Zoe Tomaras. Horse play is a devised piece of pure comedy. Short and sweet but also punchy and poignant, Zoe extracted performances from her actors that were dripping with unbridled fun and enjoyment.
Introduced to Georgia Drewe as the high as a kite, go with the flow, ‘have you charged your crystals” bro and gave audiences laugh after laugh. While Angela Johnston and Natalie Knowles gave audiences what can only be described as rugby boys. Both attempting to be more macho than the other, comparing dick sizes and fighting at the drop of a hat but ultimately, providing comfort to each other when needed mosts. Sophea Op depicted the sergeant leader with strength and pose. But also housed the ability to lean into the chaos that ensured. Linda Chong provided an authentic sensitive relief from the all boys school locker room environment.
The story itself was utterly brilliant. It explored the mind of those soldiers and all emotions that would run through anyones body when in a confined space for long periods of time. The actors took the audience on a massive journey from playground games to fighting to discussing sex, marry kill options, to comforting each other when things get hard. There is a shakespearian quality to the quick 30 minuet play, in the way in which it would move from dick joke to emotional monologue about a lost love.
It explored masculinity in all its forms (toxic, included), comradeship and was all in all extremely funny. Audiences can often be afraid to laugh during performances, but not when seeing Horse Play. All that was heard from the audience was giggling, chuckles, and full on belly laughs.
A massive congratulations goes out the team that created such a brilliant show.
