I was sent by the Star to review ‘Octopus’ a while ago, a pretty good play. This is super delayed: the review was published on December 19, but only now uploading it. What can I say, I’ve been busy.
THE OFFICIAL REVIEW:
OCTOPUS starts off light and breezy: Kevin and Blake, a young and good-looking couple, invite the older and more experienced Max and Andy to their place for a night of fun.
Despite their reservations, nervousness eventually gives way to excitement, and after some initial awkwardness, the two pairs click. Before they know it, some clothes come off (to the delight of many of the women and gay men in the audience) and a night of pleasure ensues.
Malik Taufiq (left) and Will Quah have great chemistry in Octopus.
Watching the first few scenes of Steve Yockey’s play, one might be tempted to think it is a light-hearted comedy or romantic drama. The banter is light, innuendo flows readily, and the characters tease each other about their quirks and foibles.
I assure you, however, that nothing could be further from the truth. Octopus slowly becomes darker and darker as Kevin and Blake find that their night of fun has unexpected repercussions, not just for them but for Max and Andy as well.
Kevin and Blake are visited by a mysterious telegraph boy – always soaking wet and whistling when he appears – who delivers them messages that become more and more sinister over time.
Add the threat of a sea monster from the ocean floor, and the discovery that they may be infected with a deadly disease, and Kevin and Blake soon find themselves trapped in a frightening situation, which forces them to examine the nature of their relationship.
Octopus is a strange blend of drama, comedy, romance, allegory and horror. It is directed by Kelvin Wong and features an all-male cast, namely Malik Taufiq, William Quah, Nandang Abdul Rahman, Jack Lua and Edmund Wong.
This gripping examination of commitment rendered through a post-modern gay lens succeeds due to its engaging themes and wonderful acting.
Yockey is an established American playwright and an alumni of the Actor’s Express Intern Company (2001/2002). His play was originally developed and produced by Actor’s Express Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and opened in January 2008 to rave reviews before its West Coast run in San Francisco, where it was critically praised too.
Octopus’ subject matter and mature themes are difficult to portray convincingly, but the current production handles all that successfully.
How far would you stay with someone, for the sake of love? What happens when mere love isn’t enough?
When a relationship detours into dark, unfamiliar waters, how far should one try to keep it afloat, instead of just letting it sink?
The characters find themselves overturned and overwhelmed by the events of their fateful night together, and discover new things about themselves and their partners that they are not comfortable with.
This rude awakening – realising that the people they love may not be worth loving – is a menace more terrifying than the unseen sea monster.
The reality of such discoveries can sometimes be too hard to tackle, and Octopus also explores the human tendency to choose escape rather than confrontation.
Many of us refuse to accept truths that stare at us in the face. Instead, we find solace in uncertainty and bliss in ignorance, a fact beautifully illustrated both by Kevin’s refusal to read his telegrams and Blake’s reluctance to get himself checked.
All the characters shine in their roles. Malik and Quah, who have fantastic chemistry, deliver splendid performances as Kevin and Blake, respectively. The scenes in which they interact and argue are captivating and feel very natural. It is delightful watching them transform into fully-fleshed, authentic characters.
Wong also delivers a fantastic performance. He starts off as the jovial, flamboyant telegraph boy who brings comic relief, and effectively transitions into a sinister, dark character towards the end. The scene in which he confronts Malik brims with dramatic tension and is one of the highlights of Octopus.
But Yockey’s play has some weaknesses: it drags a bit in the beginning, and the message becomes quite heavy-handed towards the end. Occasionally, it is overly cryptic: for example, I’m still unsure what the sea monster represents. Is it a symbol of the overwhelming pressure of guilt, the devastation of a breakdown in relationships, or even the ravaging menace of HIV/AIDS? Or, perhaps, a combination of all three?
Despite these shortcomings, Octopus is a wonderful piece of theatre that is meaningful and compelling. Its initial light tone and fantastical nature is a smokescreen for its engaging examination of complex issues.
Thanks to good directing and an immensely talented cast, Yockey’s play will grab you from the start and not let go until you are caught up in its sinewy tentacles of commitment, alienation, obsession and insecurity.
Highly recommended.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS
-I worked with Malik Taufiq before (he played Inspector Andrew in my S&S piece, ‘A Grave Matter’, and he is a really talented, warm and funny guy.
-I originally wondered why the play was called ‘Octopus’, when there was no reference or even mention of the creature in the play, and then it hit me: the play opens with a gay foursome. Four people, four pairs of legs entwined..hmmm?
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