The actors do well by the play’s shifting moods. Furious bursts of dialogue contrast with long, agonizing pauses in Bartlett’s sharply-composed text, which offers different reasons for John’s indecisive ways but ultimately suggests that he simply is an immature youth finally realizing his bisexual nature.

One doubts whether the drama would seem nearly so effective were it written and staged in a more traditional manner. But as Oscar Wilde observed, style often triumphs over substance, and so it goes with this artful production, which certainly will send spectators out of the arena debating its points.

“Cock” continues an open-end run at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 W. 42nd St., New York. Call (646) 223-3010 or visit www.cockfightplay.com.

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