The Measure of a Man

The title alludes to historical figures who use this idiom to refer to spiritual and moral standards that define a man’s place in the world. Roach is no less probing in his deliberations on what it means to be a gay man in contemporary society. This performance is an extremely personal journey, which provides a frank account of the insecurities, longings, and compulsions that plague the protagonist. Roach’s character is alluring and the explicit nature of his revelations is a fascinating journey into a psyche that is rarely given such detailed attention. These are not the revelations of a tortured soul but rather the musings of a life beset by angst.

While the performance is always strong and the explicit reflections on sexual meanderings are extremely insightful, there could be more exploration of the elements that make this existence worthy of placing under such a spotlight. The episodic nature of the account creates an interesting effect not unlike the jump cuts employed by Godard in his cinematic experimentation. This jarring effect was a strategy that aided Godard’s incisive examination of brooding individuals who dwelt in places that often resembled the threshold of doom. The performance and narrative style in this play certainly harbour the promise of venturing into such spheres and suggest that the play should be reaching darker or more profound depths.

Patricia Di Risio

Photographer: Jarrod Rose