words: Mike Smith

★★★★

Fri Nov 5 at The Dance House, Wales Millennium Centre

Why does most contemporary comedy about men have to portray us as pathetic fools, permanently the fall guy and no longer ever the straight man? In contrast, virtually all female humour is about clever women looking down their noses at the male of the species. Fortunately, Muscle provides a refreshing break with this nonsense, using humour as an insightful method of reflecting our lives and experiences without resorting to slapstick and farce.

The comedy is rich and genuinely funny, the stories are poignant without being steeped in needless caricature, sentimentality and political correctness.  Men can be funny, they can be in amusing situations, they can even be the butt of the comedy – but they don’t all have to be Mr Bean.

In Muscle, Greg Cullen’s writing balances humour with stories of great pathos and beauty; from a lad who devotes his entire life to his brother and sister, children coping with their brother who has muscular dystrophy, dockland gangs and political refugees. The all-male cast present these real stories from men around Wales with great skill and polish in an evening that comprises dramatic monologue, sketches and some dance and singing – all choreographed by Phil Williams and with music by Benjamin Talbott. It is also interesting to see how the men are (in this man’s eyes) effective in also portraying different types of women  – which was actually very good – but strangely less effective when trying to present an effete gay man.

The show has developed from an earlier production that was presented in January and now returns for a 10-day run at Chapter Arts Centre. Muscle was introduced to audiences through National Dance Company Wales’ Meet the Artists, See the Artist season and now transfers to Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff from November 10.