The Sex Party - Menier Chocolate Factory

Sounds like Abigail’s Party crashed together with The Boys In The Band. In a bad way.

Is “swinger” something people still say?

I'm definitely game for going to one with Jason Merrells and whoever John Hopkins is. 

And I'd expect Amanda Donohoe would be a right laugh too. 

The only thing with group sex is it's always quite difficult to know whose leg it is your sat on!*

*which the poster captures perfectly, incidentally.

Good to see the name Amanda is getting well represented

The prices are a bit high for me at the moment, do Menier ever have offers?

Timely *cough* *cough*.

I liked the shape of this; the party provides more than a platform for what unfolds and so we are presented not so much with a heterosexual power dissertation (Marber's Closer) or an exploration of the boundaries of gender/ID/entitlements (Icke's The Doctor), but perhaps a state of the nation's mores and moralities - though clearly within the framework of a third decade/21st century, Internet-aware sensibility (with perhaps tiny throwbacks to Abigail's Party back in the day).

A couple of belter gags, periods of engaging/engrossing dialogue, a couple of slightly limp moments (first half), light-hearted smut ..

The socio-political zeitgeist is a ridiculously tricky area to work in, esp. if you want to contribute something constructive without an agenda, and Terry Johnson achieves that goal.

I've commented before on the pricing at Menier but this is yet another high quality ensemble cast with, I believe, only 4-weeks rehearsal time. This was perhaps the third preview, I'm not minded to see it again though would be curious to see how it tightens up, as it will.

For those for whom these things matter, we were fully clothed and out on our ear by 9.45pm

3 1/4 fondue sets out of five (third preview only)

I clicked on the seating plan (Firefox browser, ad blocker enabled). Maybe phone.

Steve I just had a strange brain event. We were at the same matinee for Closer, were you sitting extreme left of the Stalls (facing the stage), about halfway back?

A play or two halves, not one to leave at the interval.

The initial set up is what was expected, lots of giggles from the ‘Islington’ couples in the audience and when a stranger enters the fray everything changes.

One I need to digest, the play ends with a flinch which would most probably be my reaction, on reflection would that make me no different to the more vocal.

Will likely see again later in the run if the right offer comes along, looking forward to reading the thoughts of others and the reviews, as londonpostie says:

The socio-political zeitgeist is a ridiculously tricky area to work in, esp. if you want to contribute something constructive without an agenda, and Terry Johnson achieves that goal.

Only in your imagination, no nudity only some scantily clad moments.

A reasonably diverting first half, which kept me entertained while all the time wondering "where is this going, exactly?". Well, after the interval we find out, when the tempo flags for a rather forced Debate. I felt a couple (at least) of the nine characters were constructs planted there to represent Points of View, and although the pace picks up thereafter it never quite becomes dramatically satisfying. Felt a final twist was a touch contrived too. However I should say that many in the audience were laughing a lot more than me, and there are definitely some punchy lines, but for me this felt like a play the author felt he should write rather than one he couldn't stop himself writing.