Edinburgh Evening News
Published Date: 09 August 2011
Cock And Bull Story, ****
New Town Theatre, George Street
New Town Theatre, George Street
COCK and Bull Story's freewheeling nature - it evolved from a series of improvisations - means it does ramble a bit, but there's little else to fault in the story of two friends whose close yet combustible relationship threatens to splinter in the hyper-macho culture of boxing.
Travis is a boxer whose career is on the verge of earning him a move to London, while Jacko is the "ned" best friend whose fiery temper is easily ignited.
Cock And Bull Story captures the rat-a-tat dialogue between Travis and Jacko. We find out that, right off the bat, Jacko is wildly homophobic, openly delighting in calling his friend's sexuality into question.
Despite the exotic language used throughout, there's a lightness of touch to the script that lets the story unfold slowly, while also giving texture to two characters whose humanity and raw emotion transcend the stereotypical portrayals of young working-class men.
Matt Robertson as the manipulative Jacko is cajoling and chilling in turn, dominating Maxi Moffat's tough but fragile Travis.
Scarily violent, Cock And Bull story pulls no punches in the latter half of its running time and is a grisly portrayal of a friendship on a knife edge.
Run ends August 28
