The adage that all women want a bad boy really comes home to roost in this interesting tale of love, loss and obsession.
This slow-burning drama charts the relationship of Christine, a straitlaced primary school teacher, and Jeremy, a primate obsessed research student, and the inset of disenchantment and discord into their lives.
Spurned on by the death of her ex and Jeremy’s lack of support and detachment, the normally sensible Christine finds herself becoming increasingly involved with an imprisoned murderer, Max, via a church organised pen-pal scheme.
Fuelled by Jeremy’s lack of compassion and Max’s compliments, Christine finds herself feeding into the prisoner’s obsession and developing a growing desire of her own. The trouble is Max never mentioned his parole.
Filled with great writing and some wonderfully dark humour After Sex… is almost a fabulous play, but lacks something in the delivery. It is fair to say that all the players give competent and engaging performances, with Max being a particular standout despite lacking the physicality of a hardened criminal, but they are missing that je ne sais quoi that would make this a four star show.
All in all, After Sex is a well observed piece, that could be brilliant with a little work.
3/5
Richard Biggs
