AFTERGLOW is a powerful theatrical piece exploring complicated, messy relationships and the consequences of impossible choices.
Into an open and seemingly happy marriage between Alex, played by Julius Curtis and Josh, played by Matthew Mitcham, complete with surrogate baby on the way, comes a new element, the younger man Darius played by Matthew Predny. As the play opens, we see the threesome enjoying an evening together and we learn about the nature of their relationships. All seems the perfect set up with trust and openness among them.
Josh and Darius begin to see more of each other, which appears to suit Alex, who feels overwhelmed by Josh’s demand on his affections when he needs time to himself. Cracks however, begin to develop and complications set in as the relationship between Darius and Josh changes in intensity to be more than friends with benefits.
One of the important foundations of the relationship between Alex and Josh has been trust and no secrets, but when this is shattered, decisions must be made on the future of their relationship and also the relationship between Josh and Darius.
Various solutions are tried but ruptures open more and more. All three extraordinary actors express a huge range of emotions from love and ecstasy to guilt and grief throughout this play as tensions rise and futures become uncertain.
All are beautifully comfortable with each other and the audience in the nude scenes. This story is about people genuinely trying to negotiate a maze of desires and hopes and at the same time not hurting each other – an impossible goal.
Writer, director and choreographer S. Asher Gelman has drawn together these three wonderful actors into a circle of love and pain that flows with perfect harmony along a very slippery slope. There is a fusion of acting and movement without words, in a set designed by Ann Beyersdorfer that is at the same time simple but modern and highly effective in moving the audience between different locations.
The costumes, designed by Lauren Peters allows for clothes to be removed or put on quickly and easily as the story demands. The atmosphere is heightened by the lighting, designed by Jamie Roderick and sound, designed by Alex Mackyol which draw us deeper into the lives of these, at times, tortured souls, trying to negotiate lives in a situation when there are no black and white rules to guide them.
S. Asher Gelman’s AFTERGLOW is playing the Eternity Theatre, Darlinghurst until the 22nd March 2026 2026.
