Afterglow by S Asher Gelmann, Southwark Playhouse, the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 10 February 2024. 3***: William Russell.

Afterglow by S Asher Gelmann, Southwark Playhouse, the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 10 February 2024.

3***: William Russell.

“Things that come in threes seldom end well.”

Beautifully stage, expertly performed and apparently a hit off Broadway this play about a love triangle trundles down the gay love affair plot tramlines from beginning to end. There is absolutely no reason to care what happens to any of the trio as the end is in sight from the very beginning. Josh (Peter McPherson) and Alex (Victor Hugo) are a married couple in their thirties living in New York in an obviously posh apartment – Josh works in the theatre, Alex is a scientist of some kind and they are about to have a baby. But they also like having threesomes – without commitment. Enter Darius (James Nicholson), a twenty year old plus boy from the sticks who is playing the field. We meet them after the trio have enjoyed their first encounter and they are indeed a sight to behold – actors who play such roles are always gym toned to the last tendon. The problem is that while Alex abides by the rules of the polyamorous game Josh, who is younger and needs to be cosseted, gets far too interested in the dishy Darius who in turn discovers that being a boy about town is one thing but having a real lover another. He is broke, thinks he may have to go back home to the sticks and Josh offers to pay his rent but does not tell Alex. You can take it from there. They take their clothes off a lot, the extremely elegant and clever set includes a shower under which they frequently stand – they have to be the cleanest actors in town – and keep moving frames and mattresses to create beds and massage tables and dining tables on which they lie or at which they sit. To be fair the performances are good, Nicholson captures the puppy love qualities which make Darius so desirable, while McPherson conjures up all the need to be the beloved Josh has which makes having two lovers, while complicated, something he finds impossible to resist. Nobody seems to bother much about the hapless child he and Alex are about to bring into the world – she duly arrives. But technically it is very well staged, the actors do what they are required to do impressively at times even rising to the occasion. But the play’s the thing and In the canon of gay dramas this one is completely predictable although it does possibly have rather more nudity than most gay plays past.

Cast

Peter McPherson – Josh.

James Nicholson – Darius.

Victor Hugo – Alex.

Creatives

Director – S Asher Gellman.

Set Designer – Ann Beyersdorfer.

Costume Designer – John Nardella.

Lighting Designer – Jamie Roderick.

Sound Designer – Alex Mackyol.

Intimacy Director – Lee Crowley.