REVIEW: COME OUT FIGHTING by Nick Bamford at Drayton Arms Theatre 17 – 21 October 2023

‘Merimée’s, Carmen is transposed into a gay love story in the hyper-masculine world of the army’  ★★ ½

Set in the man’s world of the army, Come Out Fighting, a queer love story, written and directed by Nick Bamford and produced by Cornwall-based, What Now, was inspired by Merimee’s epic, Carmen. Tackling themes of repressed sexuality, homophobia and the line between fierce desire and violence, it has an incredibly arresting opening scene. A combat team, practice their attack and defence moves brandishing their phallic weaponry of knives and guns. Choreographed to rousing classical music, it alludes to the dance of love; a push and pull, fight and flight of desire. All wear the military gear of camouflage, which as well as locating us in this world of hyper-masculinity offers the audience a sub-text about concealment.

When Carl Jarvis, openly gay, promiscuous and provocative is disciplined for doing a strip tease in his barracks, he’s sent off for a disciplinary by his superiors including the vehement homophobe and closeted military policeman, Sargent Lamb, played by Luke Harding. Jarvis, played as affected and camp by Jacob Mellers (his tongue rarely in his mouth) is escorted by steady Corporal Jo Donaldson (Langley Howard) heterosexual and engaged to his girlfriend. There is a chemistry between them and in the long journey into the night, there is drama, action, romance and revelation.

There is an indication that Joe may have been involved with another soldier who committed suicide and tension mounts as Joe realises, he is attracted to Karl. Langley Howard gives the standout performance of the night with outbursts of uncontrolled, murderous rage. As he confronts his new identity and the unknown, confusion and fear ooze from every pore in his skin. Can he risk everything for Karl, an unreliable, flighty fantasist who comes with his own emotional baggage?

This play is in two halves of 45 minutes with a 15-minute interval. The first half works well with mounting tension and rising stakes. The second half becomes bogged down in a B Story that muddies the waters. There are too many small scenes that perhaps belong more to the language of the cinematic edit than theatre and serve to continually take audiences out of the moment and dilute a potentially rich story. This powerful story is sure to find an enthusiastic LBTQ+ audience but the story feels in need of more discipline in order for the core story to really shine.

Photography: Nick Bamford

COME OUT FIGHTING by Nick Bamford at Drayton Arms Theatre 17 – 21 October 2023

Box Office http://www.draytonarmstheatre.co.uk/come-out-fighting

Reviewed by Nilgin Yusuf