Steve Brachmann, Jamie Nablo, and Sean Marciniak in BUA's "Cock."

And so the question of the week seems to be, “What is COCK all about?” Mike Bartlett’s provocatively titled play was a big hit in both London and New York. It’s an elegantly written and intensely sexual play that has been praised for its evocative flow of language and for Bartlett’s skillful examination of sexual ambiguities and the intensity of desire. The dilemma of its young protagonist, John, is very contemporary and yet it is ageless. Is the man gay or not? And should it matter?

Apparently the question does matter to the man and woman with whom John sleeps.

The tantalizing title actually refers to cock-fighting (well, ostensibly), and it is in this arena of combat that Bartlett metaphorically sets his play. As each scene begins, his characters square off to do battle and advance their positions.

The play has tended to attract especially young audiences, and for this occasion venerable LGBTQ Buffalo United Artists has partnered with the very randy and youthful Theater Jugend, under the direction of that perennial youngster (in the very best sense) Drew McCabe. The ménage-a-cock is played by metrosexual Steve Brachmann as alluring and elusive John, with Sean Marciniak as the male lover, Jamie Nablo as the female lover, and Shaun McLaughlin as the requisite authoritative father figure.

The production opens this weekend.

For ticket information, dates, and times for these productions see the On the Boards section.