Men’s Business by Tony and Olivier Award winning playwright Simon Stephens has its world premiere this season. This 1972 version of Mannersache by Franz Xaier Kroetz, Simon Stephen’s translation is a love story set in a butcher’s shop with a cast of two and a dog and is the London debut for the acclaimed new production company Glass House Theatre from Dublin.
From the opening scene, the backroom of a butcher’s shop Charlie and Rex appear in their work attire to the loud sounds of punk rock music, blasting, flashes of red as they assume their positions into what quickly transpires to be the only place the audience will see throughout this play. A small intimate theatre of benches which the audience can truly see, feel and touch the actors on set.
Rex Ryan plays Victor the ‘boyfriend’ or not as he puts it “I never said that” and is in a relationship with the owner of the butcher’s shop, Charlie Lauren Farrell she lives alone with her dog Cooper who is seldom seen but forms a key part of the storyline throughout this play.
This love story is not one of kindness, laughter or joy and no red roses in sight, but one of a dark tumultuous relationship between Victor and Charlie who are tormented, narcissistic, jealously and obsession drives their behaviour. The desperation from Charlie to be loved by Ryan and be the only woman in his life overcomes her to commit acts of unedifying cruelty to Cooper her dog and becomes subservient to Victors demands.
This play is uncomfortable viewing for the whole 90 minutes and advises a content warning. This is responsible as there are provocative themes running throughout, scenes of nudity, sexual content and extreme violence. It is a powerful and intense production made even more shocking as a viewer, because you feel you are present in the backroom, with nowhere to hide. This is not a voyeuristic experience and nor should it be, its pure, brutal and profound this ‘love story’ navigates the viewer through a journey of self-discovery to some degree, disbelief, sadness and shock as you see unfold Charlie and Victor’s path of psychological and physical destruction. The profound effect on the audience around me and myself as a reviewer was palpable. Do your research prior to watching this production.
The questions raised are, what is the point of this play is, what is it trying to achieve, and is it positioned right for present day times. Brilliantly acted out by Rex and Lauren who succeeded to create the tension, and despair, faultless in their performance and portrayal of Victor and Charlie.
Reviewer: Michelle Knight
Reviewed: 21st March 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Playwright Simon Stephens
Directed Ross Gaynor
Designer Andrew Clancy
Lightening Jess F. Kane
Duration approx. 90 minutes with no interval
Content Warning
Run is from 18th March – 12th April 2025