Sub Story Reviews

A GOOD SUB STORY

Act Provocateur Int.

Lion & Unicorn Theatre

London NW5

November 2007 for 3 weeks.

It would be fair to say that despite extensive advertising, it was very difficult to get the play reviewed by the normal means.

The previous play at the theatre, Salome, was well covered and well reviewed (it deserved to be) and was transferred to Pentameters, in Hampstead.

Those same critics when asked to cover our show said that it was not our turn; there are several other theatres in the area and their reviewers had to cover them this time.

The reviews we did get came primarily from the fetish forums therefore, who themselves took a while to get going (people need to be encouraged to go out to a play by someone they don't know.

Also, there is the element of, "What can it teach me? I am already involved in the scene. I know what it is like."

But the play was not a titillating expose of the fetish scene, it was about real every day humans and relationships,

(which the following reviews do attest to)

and used BDSM and D/s as a mere backdrop of the sorts of different ways we interact with one another.

Thus, those that did venture out, started reporting back on the forums most positively, and thus the word of mouth began and we got good audiences.

REVIEWS

Time Out Forum

"This play is a GEM. Why haven't Time Out reviewed it. An intelligent important story about ordinary people involved in fulfilling extraordinary relationships, that may not be THAT exraordinary. Who knows? It's never discussed! Or reviewed! Well done to the actors and writer specially the two actors who get it, as it were."

Jennifer Down

Evening Standard Forum

"Yet another example of pioneering theatre from what is a remarkably unknown company. I have seen three shows so far by API and all of them struck me as possibly the bravest and most confrontational theatre I've ever seen. A very strong play here about a subject I normally would think a bit weird (sorry -I do come from a small town!) However it was presented here clearly and, it must be said, I left feeling real empathy and understanding of what it must be like to have as a lifestyle choice something most of us frown on -or ridicule. It certainly made me think about this subject! Tremendous plaudits to all concerned."

James Alexander, London

"A fantastic play with fantastic performances, a real hidden gem on the fringe just now I think, it is laugh out loud funny yet also very heartwarming.

I would highly recommend it, and not just because of the chains and whips!"

"Found this through Metro - what an amazing play. Well done to writer and all the cast, specially those that experience the cane and flogger!

Women can take pain better than men and don't men make a racket doing so.

But most importantly is that this is a great story and an analysis of BDSM festishists as real every day people.

I am very impressed and you deserve great audiences. Thank you."

John Ryder, London

Various Fetish Forums

"A Good Sub Story" by Sam South, is on at the Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town. I went to see it last night after . . . `s party - and it was brilliant Scene related, but not just titillation: a real story with some twists and turns and excellent acting and direction. I thoroughly recommend it. It's on until the 9th (including today and next Sunday). If you can get to it, do.

frankDale

What an amazing play. Highly recommend it. Not just a good sub story but a good story, a good Dom story, and very intelligently written. It treats people into various fetishes as good human beings - it's just their families and careers that screw them up. Anyone thinking of going it ends Sunday. I was really impressed by the script and the brave actors. Don't know if any of them are into this but they acted like they were... !

denise

Excellent play. Just got back. Thanks fD for recommending it.

Powerful psychological drama set amongst a series of interconnecting couples within the BDSM scene, all unfolding with lots of surprises and excitement. Jolly good acting and gripping all the way through. Thoroughly recommend it

Eddy d.2

" . . . ." and i decided to go and see this last night. We had heard mixed reviews from the absolutely brilliant to a complete waste of time, so went open minded and not with too high expectations. The play was very well written, the twists in the plot and of course the fact that you wont see this kind of play on at many theatres made it worth while. It certainly was thought provoking and we both could relate to parts of the plot. With the frontal nudity, i can see why Mr Dale thought the actors were brave, however there was one particular chap who had one of the nicest bums that i've seen in quite a while and i could see why he was so confident in the nude scenes. I probably saw a little too long if i'm honest! The end scene was a disappointment though, it ended far too quickly and the director had an excellent opportunity to make that last scene so much better. If i knew what it was like before i went, i would still have gone, as it made an enjoyable night out, 3 of the actors and the plot made it worth it and if nothing else the voice of Byron and the last nude scene makes it highly reccommendable!

Lili

Well I went tonight and have to say I really enjoyed it. I don't want to give too much of the plot away because it has more than enough twists and turns but you really will miss out if you miss this one. There were a lot of subtle lines and a lot of knowing snigger's from the audience and a fair few familiar faces as well. Come to think of it the lead actor did remind me of someone I used to see at ST a few years ago. Well worth going to see, its a small and intimate venue and I sat on the back row with a couple of trouble makers. Hopefully one of them will do a more complete review as a weblog later, her trade off for blagging a chew from behind the bar.

Master Cosmic

I went yesterday and was very pleased with it. It really is unusual to see BDSM-femdom and femsub handled as a central issue by someone who totally understands it, rather than just added as a spicy flavouring to a conventional play. The plot is neatly woven and it gives a satisfying ending, made possible by acting is of a very high standard. I liked the fact that it handled the uncertainties and emotional complexities of the personalities so one almost forgot the voyeuristic aspect. I was very taken with the female domme and my companion was fairly woozy over the male dom figure.They both gave the impression it was natural for them. I'd strongly urge you to see this before it closes at the weekend. It is not to be missed if you are involved in the scene at all. www.sardax.com

This play addressed many of the questions that we ask ourselves very directly and a good deal of them much less directly, so that you were left re-asking yourself the difficult questions on the way home. I was initially disappointed that while the male submissives were both portrayed as confident alpha types the female submissive (who was in a more M/s type of relationship) was extremely diffident, bordering on a wet dishcloth. However, as the play developed, her doormatishness gave her commentary on the relationship between D/s and abused women a provocative ambiguity and a short time later a cast away revelation about her husband/Dom made you wonder whether the whole basis of her consent had been false from the start of the relationship, which emphasised the fragility of the lines that we draw. This play is a bit of an onion. Well worth seeing in the remaining few days.

Yes, the male Dom character was very moreish.

Maudie

Back to Sam South


	A GOOD SUB STORY Act Provocateur Int. Lion & Unicorn Theatre London NW5 November 2007 for 3 weeks. It would be fair to say that despite extensive advertising, it was very difficult to get the play reviewed by the normal means. The previous play at the theatre, Salome, was well covered and well reviewed (it deserved to be) and was transferred to Pentameters, in Hampstead. Those same critics when asked to cover our show said that it was not our turn; there are several other theatres in the area and their reviewers had to cover them this time. The reviews we did get came primarily from the fetish forums therefore, who themselves took a while to get going (people need to be encouraged to go out to a play by someone they don't know. Also, there is the element of, "What can it teach me? I am already involved in the scene. I know what it is like." But the play was not a titillating expose of the fetish scene, it was about real every day humans and relationships, (which the following reviews do attest to) and used BDSM and D/s as a mere backdrop of the sorts of different ways we interact with one another. Thus, those that did venture out, started reporting back on the forums most positively, and thus the word of mouth began and we got good audiences. REVIEWS Time Out Forum "This play is a GEM. Why haven't Time Out reviewed it. An intelligent important story about ordinary people involved in fulfilling extraordinary relationships, that may not be THAT exraordinary. Who knows? It's never discussed! Or reviewed! Well done to the actors and writer specially the two actors who get it, as it were." Jennifer Down Evening Standard Forum "Yet another example of pioneering theatre from what is a remarkably unknown company. I have seen three shows so far by API and all of them struck me as possibly the bravest and most confrontational theatre I've ever seen. A very strong play here about a subject I normally would think a bit weird (sorry -I do come from a small town!) However it was presented here clearly and, it must be said, I left feeling real empathy and understanding of what it must be like to have as a lifestyle choice something most of us frown on -or ridicule. It certainly made me think about this subject! Tremendous plaudits to all concerned." James Alexander, London "A fantastic play with fantastic performances, a real hidden gem on the fringe just now I think, it is laugh out loud funny yet also very heartwarming. I would highly recommend it, and not just because of the chains and whips!" CG "Found this through Metro - what an amazing play. Well done to writer and all the cast, specially those that experience the cane and flogger! Women can take pain better than men and don't men make a racket doing so. But most importantly is that this is a great story and an analysis of BDSM festishists as real every day people. I am very impressed and you deserve great audiences. Thank you." John Ryder, London Various Fetish Forums "A Good Sub Story" by Sam South, is on at the Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town. I went to see it last night after . . . `s party - and it was brilliant Scene related, but not just titillation: a real story with some twists and turns and excellent acting and direction. I thoroughly recommend it. It's on until the 9th (including today and next Sunday). If you can get to it, do. frankDale What an amazing play. Highly recommend it. Not just a good sub story but a good story, a good Dom story, and very intelligently written. It treats people into various fetishes as good human beings - it's just their families and careers that screw them up. Anyone thinking of going it ends Sunday. I was really impressed by the script and the brave actors. Don't know if any of them are into this but they acted like they were... ! denise Excellent play. Just got back. Thanks fD for recommending it. Powerful psychological drama set amongst a series of interconnecting couples within the BDSM scene, all unfolding with lots of surprises and excitement. Jolly good acting and gripping all the way through. Thoroughly recommend it Eddy d.2 " . . . ." and i decided to go and see this last night. We had heard mixed reviews from the absolutely brilliant to a complete waste of time, so went open minded and not with too high expectations. The play was very well written, the twists in the plot and of course the fact that you wont see this kind of play on at many theatres made it worth while. It certainly was thought provoking and we both could relate to parts of the plot. With the frontal nudity, i can see why Mr Dale thought the actors were brave, however there was one particular chap who had one of the nicest bums that i've seen in quite a while and i could see why he was so confident in the nude scenes. I probably saw a little too long if i'm honest! The end scene was a disappointment though, it ended far too quickly and the director had an excellent opportunity to make that last scene so much better. If i knew what it was like before i went, i would still have gone, as it made an enjoyable night out, 3 of the actors and the plot made it worth it and if nothing else the voice of Byron and the last nude scene makes it highly reccommendable! Lili Well I went tonight and have to say I really enjoyed it. I don't want to give too much of the plot away because it has more than enough twists and turns but you really will miss out if you miss this one. There were a lot of subtle lines and a lot of knowing snigger's from the audience and a fair few familiar faces as well. Come to think of it the lead actor did remind me of someone I used to see at ST a few years ago. Well worth going to see, its a small and intimate venue and I sat on the back row with a couple of trouble makers. Hopefully one of them will do a more complete review as a weblog later, her trade off for blagging a chew from behind the bar. Master Cosmic I went yesterday and was very pleased with it. It really is unusual to see BDSM-femdom and femsub handled as a central issue by someone who totally understands it, rather than just added as a spicy flavouring to a conventional play. The plot is neatly woven and it gives a satisfying ending, made possible by acting is of a very high standard. I liked the fact that it handled the uncertainties and emotional complexities of the personalities so one almost forgot the voyeuristic aspect. I was very taken with the female domme and my companion was fairly woozy over the male dom figure.They both gave the impression it was natural for them. I'd strongly urge you to see this before it closes at the weekend. It is not to be missed if you are involved in the scene at all. www.sardax.com This play addressed many of the questions that we ask ourselves very directly and a good deal of them much less directly, so that you were left re-asking yourself the difficult questions on the way home. I was initially disappointed that while the male submissives were both portrayed as confident alpha types the female submissive (who was in a more M/s type of relationship) was extremely diffident, bordering on a wet dishcloth. However, as the play developed, her doormatishness gave her commentary on the relationship between D/s and abused women a provocative ambiguity and a short time later a cast away revelation about her husband/Dom made you wonder whether the whole basis of her consent had been false from the start of the relationship, which emphasised the fragility of the lines that we draw. This play is a bit of an onion. Well worth seeing in the remaining few days. Yes, the male Dom character was very moreish. Maudie Back to Sam South