Plumbing the depths of misogyny, abuse and control, Good Boy is a sobering look at the power dynamics that occur within intimate relationships.
Young, naive and dating for the first time, Boy is looking for love. What he finds is a whole lot of conditions – as a “twink” he must look young, he must be shaved, and he must be submissive. Inexperienced as he is, Boy initially goes along with the requests, eager to please and conform to his boyfriend’s “preference”. But when he finds his partner’s porn history, and that predeliction becomes clear, he is shaken to his core.
Based on writer/performer James Farley’s own experiences, and produced in association with Survivors UK, Good Boy is both a compelling story and a way to raise awareness. Developed over an eight-year period, Farley has managed to blend the darker content with really warm and funny moments, which keeps the audience engaged throughout.
They play begins in a clinic, where Boy has gone for STI screening. Farley cleverly uses the completion of a questionnaire to share some of his sexual history with the audience, hinting at more than one experience of assault and abuse. The piece then flashes back to his first date, allowing us to watch with more knowledge than his character, and observe the numerous red flags which Boy cannot yet recognise.
There is a surprising amount of humour in this play, and Farley is particular skilled in physical comedy. The positions that he adopts, whether it is learning some salient lessonds about anal shaving or acting out sexual experiences, simultaneously raise both a laugh and a grimace. This piece could, however, not be more forthright about the reality of sexual violence and coercive control, with Boy experiencing a depressing litany of degrading and abusive encounters, from “stealthing” to physical assault.
This play feels like both a crucible and a cathartic experience, based as it is on real events. Farley gives a strong, committed performance throughout, and does not shy away from topics that are rarely addressed head-on. This is an important piece of work, delving into the darker parts of sexual relationships and working to find a way out into the light.
By Deborah Klayman
Good Boy plays at The Space @ Surgeons’ Hall, Edinburgh until 24th August 2024. Survivors UK, which support male and non-binary survivors of sexual violence, is the official charity partner of Good Boy.
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