Sometimes it’s the uncomplicated, unadorned stories that are the most effective and most touching. This was the case with James Balian’s play ‘The Viagra Monologues’.
‘The Viagra Monologues’ is set in the lounge salon of a pub. We have the bar area and a table with chairs. It is coming up to closing time, and five people remain. There’s the publican behind the bar, and a group of four people sharing a drink around a table. They are a father and his son, together with a stripper and her chauffeur. Beginning with the publican, each of the five characters move to centre stage and tell the audience their story. Once their story is complete, they return to their seat, and make way for the next storyteller. The play ends with the visitors wandering off into the night. The publican picks up their glasses, comes centre stage, tells one final story, and then its lights out.
Their stories flow easily, their journeys all too human, and easy to relate to. The talented cast perform their characters well. Pete Walters plays Henry who talks about the flame he has been carrying for a woman for many years. Jim Gosden plays Freddy who talks about how his life was made hard by being sexually abused by a counsellor when he was a kid, and how his love of music has been such a big part of his life. Rob Flanagan is Bruce who speaks about how he excited he was to be getting married again soon. On another note, he talks about how proud he is of his son, Will, who had recently come out to him that he was gay. Rory Pie plays easy going, self effacing Will who is just so happy that coming out to his father is done with.
The play’s title is without a doubt very catchy but something of a misnomer. This play wasn’t so much about men’s obsession with their appendage but about how men deal with the ups and downs of life.
The play brought to mind a favourite old song, a Frank Sinatra’s classic, ‘One For The Road’. It just captured that same sort of feeling.
This was a bittersweet, poetic ride. Part of this year’s inaugural Sydney Fringe Festival, Balian’s ‘Viagra Monologues’ played the New Theatre, Newtown between the 22nd and 25th September, 2010.