Life's a dog in Men's Business. It's a nasty, cruel life where amongst the banality of everything, love, or something resembling a bit of it, exists out of a butcher's shop. And in between feeding dogs or chopping up offcuts of meat to sell as pet food, there's always time for sex and violence. The play gets into these dark and disturbing themes, inviting the audience to immerse themselves in this claustrophobic world. It's not a pleasant night at the theatre. Still, the intensity of the piece in the confined space of the
Finborough Theatre and the exploration of these ideas make for an engrossing experience.
This is a new translation by Simon Stephens of Franz Xaver Kroetz's work. Initially published in 1972 and would later be expanded in the piece Through The Leaves, the action is set in a butcher's shop.
We're introduced to Charlie (Lauren Farrell), who inherited the shop from her father. Family don't seem to be around anymore. All she has as a companion is a dog. And then there's Victor (Rex Ryan). Charlie has invited him over for dinner at her shop, which includes caviar and wine. He's in his work clothes while she dresses for the occasion. But the topic shifts quickly to sex. If he wasn't here, she would be out watching a sex film, and next, he's reading a pornographic magazine while she's clearing the table. When they finally get naked, the dog outside starts whining, so he goes out and beats it.
It sets the tone for the rest of the action. Charlie is looking at the possibilities of this loveless arrangement, making Victor her partner in business and life. Yet, he is more intent on cruelty and control. It's less of a battle of the sexes but a war of attrition, as one by one, the things that Charlie holds out for are lost.
As Charlie, Lauren Farrell brings out the character's vulnerability. Something is unnerving in that you can understand her predicament yet want her to escape it since it's obvious where it is heading. Particularly when she identifies a way to get him back, or should that be to get back at him? Rex Ryan depicts Victor as both a brute and one unsure of himself. Is he shouting abuse and coercing her because he wants to, or he thinks he has to. The scenes of partial nudity only serve to highlight the vulnerability of the individuals.
However, there is one bright moment among the cruelty and bleakness: Charlie's dog appears on stage. And he's less a whiny dog and more a lovely-looking German Shepherd called Cooper. It's a pity what happens next in the piece, however, as this moment of fuzziness is replaced by more bloodsports set to a hard rock soundtrack. It's enough to make you wonder if that's all there is. Maybe that's part of the point of the piece.
Directed by Ross Gaynor, Men's Business is at the Finborough Theatre until 12 April.
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Photos by Rio Redwood-Sawyerr
