Bacon - Finborough Theatre

[jgblunners]

1 March - 26 March 2022

"I seen you looking at me. Like that.
You gonna deny it?
Go on. I swear down Mark – deny it.”

The world premiere

London, present day.

It’s Year 10’s first day back at school.

Mark is new and too scared to make friends. Darren is out-of-control and too scary to make friends. The two need each other but neither of them would ever admit it.

Worlds apart, but more similar than they realise, the pair form a complex and manipulative relationship that leads them blindly into a dangerous experiment that alters the course of both their lives.

Bacon is an unflinching and unexpectedly humorous look at masculinity, sexuality and power, through the dizzying lens of youth.

First developed at the Soho Theatre in 2018, Bacon won playwright Sophie Swithinbank Soho Theatre’s prestigious Tony Craze Award, and is also currently in development for a TV adaptation with a major production company.

This opens at the Finborough next week, from playwright Sophie Swithinbank and director Matthew Iliffe. There are some interviews with the cast on their twitter if you want to know more about the themes of the play: twitter.com/bacontheplay.

[jgblunners]

I saw this last week and it’s really excellent - Fiona Mountford’s review probably summarises it much better than I can! inews.co.uk/culture/bacon-finborough-theatre-review-sophie-swithinbanks-explosive-study-of-teenage-masculinity-1508810/amp

In fact, it’s got excellent reviews across the board:
★★★★★ Everything Theatre
★★★★★ UK Theatre Web
★★★★ The i
★★★★ The Stage
★★★★ Morning Star
★★★★ The Reviews Hub
★★★★ Boyz Magazine

[mkb]

Mountford hits the nail on the head with her description of Darren, the kid being raised by his drug-addicted and unloving father, as "a young man who has long learnt to overlay insecurity with performatively macho aggression".

Insecurity, is so often the driving force behind what, elsewhere on this site, I see others calling "toxic masculinity". In Darren's case, the inner tension between a need to be like other lads and his repressed homosexuality is key. The absence of a loving home environment means he hasn't the toolset to cope.

Mark, by contrast, is smart, motivated and loved. Black Mark has been dealt the easier hand in life than white Darren.

And so it is, that Darren, despite his behaviour, is not entirely loathesome, and Mark forms a kind of friendship with Darren.

The ending, which is also the beginning as the story is told in flashback, felt inconclusive: Mark makes a choice, but I had doubts he would stick to his decision for long.

I was not a fan of the giant seesaw as set; it was too unsubtle as a metaphor, and quite distracting when in use.

The direction and performances were superb however.

Four stars.

One act: 15:05-16:16

[Dave B]

Thanks to this getting a week extension, I caught it yesterday afternoon. Broadly agree with those above, thought it was really great and two superb performances. Really intense in such a small space,

[stevemar]

Although the run has now finished, I thought this was excellent. Intense performances particularly when the two characters mirrored each other in overlapping scenes, intelligently staged (well, the seesaw was a bit obvious but effective) and thought provoking. 4 stars +.

First time at the Finborough. Very low key venue - only 50 in almost bare studio and the pub below was closed.

[Dave B]

Just noticed that this is going to to Bristol Old Vic for a week in September.

bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/bacon

£12 - absolute steal.

[zahidf]

Has an Edinburgh fringe run as well

[londonpostie]

I hope the Finborough cast is retained as I remember them as particularly strong in these roles.

It was slightly unusual when I went, something like a Tuesday and not quite a full-house. Quite a few came in and recognised others already there - felt like word was out within the industry. I couldn't quite decide whether it was the play or one/both the performers who were creating a buzz. Arguably all.

The P Word (up the road at the Bush), which came later, had somewhat different, culture-clash ideas, but felt more finished. IMO.

Maybe the writer has worked on this a little more (I recall liking a woman writing a teen gay romance). The vernacular was striking, as well.

[Dave B]

And playing at Bitsize Riverside Stuidos Hammersmith in June

riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/bacon-73701/

Really good to see this having a life.

[Dave B]

Same cast returning for the tour.

www.whatsonstage.com/news/touring-cast-for-award-winning-play-bacon-revealed_1486025/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=30june2023

[gmoneyoutlaw]

It’s on NYC for a few weeks now. Excellent performances, unfinished play.

At the top of the show there was and audience argument, it was for real. Actor playing Mark said, dont interrupt. As the ladies were leaving after the show one said, you best be afraid of me.

Only in New York!