SEX, LIES AND A THEATRE STAGE

Patrick Marber's play, Closer, may be one of the most explicit productions ever presented by the Peacock Theatre. And not just in that moment when Louisa Milwood Haigh, playing Alice, a part-time stripper, flashes her ass. Even more graphic, at points, is the language.

You don't believe me? Okay, here's Larry (Joseph Bennett) bullying Anna (Ali White) into revealing the full details of a ride she had with the fourth character in this highly-charged sexual drama, Dan (Conor Mullen).
"How many times did you come?"
"Twice."
"Do you like to suck his cock?"
"Yes."
Hardly the kind of fare we're used to seeing at the National Theatre, but clearly true to the Peacock's original ethos, which was to create cutting edge, challenging theatre.
Even so, on opening night at least two people stormed out onto Dublin's Lower Abbey Street following the latter exchange and others stood at the bar during the interval looking shell-shocked. Ali White understands all these reactions.
"When I first read this play I was gripped, from page one to the last, and morbidly fascinated by these characters who I thought were either extremely desolate or an indictment of extremely selfish people in 90s London," she admits. "And I still have problems with the characters because they make such huge mistakes and abuse one another in so many ways. Like Anna having this totally truthful relationship with Larry, telling him not just those sexual details you mention but saying Dan is 'gentler'. And doesn't treat her like a whore. It really does raise the question of how much lovers should tell each other. How much do we need to know?"
The questions Closer poses about the ever-changing
nature of love and sex are intriguing.
Ali "absolutely" agrees that although the play may be set in London during the last decade "these characters are easy to recognise, particularly in Dublin right now!"
And even more particularly when they behave as though a cheap sexual thrill on the Internet, at a strip club or in bed, will appease their loneliness.
"This, to me, is the key to this play," she claims."You do come away wondering was there real love between any of these characters. In fact, a friend of mine, on opening night, asked: 'so did Anna love either Dan or Larry?' I think she did. Because she is, ultimately, a romantic. But each of these characters are representative of people who are desperately lonely, living in an urban environment, trying to connect.
"It's company, comfort they want. And having sex, in whatever form, is one way they try to connect. Even if it's only valid for a moment. That's why Closer is so truthful.
Even though these characters may not be easy to like, they are easy to identify with. And recognise. Maybe that's why, during rehearsals, everybody started talking about their own disasters, in terms of relationships!"
Including Ali White? Did Closer make her question the nature of romantic love?
"I'm constantly questioning love!" she responds. "I also find myself, in real life, saying things that aren't a million miles from things I say in the play. But then Anna has already become a favourite among many women. Particularly when she says things like 'you don't make me come. I make myself come. You're just in the area providing valiant assistance!' Women applaud lines like that!
"Whereas we listen for male laughter at that point and never hear it!
"That's why I say no reaction to Closer surprises me. It is that kind of play."
Closer is currently running at The Peacock Theatre, Dublin.