Waterloo East Theatre – until 4th May 2025
Reviewed by Ben Jolly
4****
Returning for a third season at Waterloo East Theatre, F**king Men by playwright and lyricist Joe DiPietro shows no signs of slowing down. Based upon the controversial and much ahead of its time play, La Ronde written by Arthur Schnitzle at the turn of the twentieth century, this adaption brings us sharply into the present day with a group of ten seemingly unrelated men as they navigate their lives, loves and sexual escapades in today’s world.
With a continuous revolving door (both literally and figuratively), the play gives us a glimpse into the relationships the characters form with each other in mostly two-hander scenes starting with their sexual encounters and building a connection from there but still cleverly weaves their stories together. This warrants the six (or in this case, ten) degrees of separation theory to be accurate and ties the play together, thus keeping the audience invested throughout. The talented cast double or triple up on characters which naturally results in some scenes working better than others with their characterisations and chemistry, but with shrewd direction by Steven Kunis, they even out as best they can. Billed as a “dramatic comedy”, it’s clear from the beginning that this play knows what it’s about; it doesn’t pander to its audience or judge the behaviour of its characters and manages to seamlessly entertain and provoke thought while including some moments of genuine warmth.
Producing this piece at Waterloo East Theatre, tucked away and under the arches, the mise en scène takes care of itself and one can’t help but feel like they’re stepping into any gay bar in Soho when entering the venue; this feeling is enhanced further with an edgy soundtrack by Julian Starr, resourceful set design by Cara Evans and lighting design by Alex Lewer.
It might be the abs on the poster or “naughty” title that initially sparks your interest in seeing this play, but with its witty dialogue, heartfelt beats and charming cast, you’ll certainly get more for your buck than you might expect.