Tender Review: Male Strippers' Meltdown at Soho Theatre

Dave Harris's Tender, now playing at Soho Theatre, is a drama about the struggles of masculinity, but far removed from incel territory. Directed by Matthew Xia, who previously directed Harris's Tambo & Bones, this play reunites the duo with a less chaotic but equally imaginative story. The setting is a New Jersey strip club where a legal loophole allows sex acts between strippers and clients. Three male strippers—Trae (Kwame Odoom), Geoff (Dex Lee), and Donny (Darren Bennett)—have performed the same teddy bear routine for years, but they are far from confident studs. Trae opens with a monologue about his lack of pleasure from sex, referencing the manga Sailor Moon. The arrival of B (Jessie Mei Li), the owner's daughter, shakes things up. She shuts down the club and forces the men to create a new show, brutally critiquing their masculinity. Harris avoids clichés, instead exploring the pressures men face as sexual beings. B serves as an agent of chaotic wokeism, though her character feels less developed than the men. Xia's production is entertaining, with athletic performances and audience interaction. However, B's lack of relatability makes her harder to inhabit. The play is unbalanced but offers thoughtful madness over kitchen-sink realism.