David, a show playing at this year's Fringe, opens with a video projection of a man taking a shower. This should come as little surprise for anyone who's seen the play's racy poster (although, don't be fooled into thinking you'll get to gawk at a nude dude, the super NSFW trailer on their website shows more nudity than the actual play). The shower scene segues into a light show with a pre-recorded voice over telling a story about a Montreal sex club, which segues into the actual meat of the show, a lengthy monologue performed by actor Joseph Bembridge about a night out at the club which culminates in an intense encounter with a man named David. Beyond these three vignettes all involving Bembridge's character, Nick, and all being sexual, it's unclear what the connection between them is. Probably, the show could have started the way Nick's monologue does, with Bembridge coming on stage in his underwear, getting ready for a night on the town.

The real strength of David is Bembridge's performance, which he commits to fully. His Nick is funny, engaging, and highly believable, and anyone who has spent a night at a gay club looking for sex or love or both will probably chuckle at a few familiar circumstances. But the script, which Bembridge co-wrote with director Bryn Symonds, leaves a little something to be desired. While the language is natural and credible, the plot is a tad cliché and as it speeds towards its harrowing conclusion, it's hard to wonder whether you haven't heard this story before. Do we really need another Boys in the Band–esque narrative about the misery of homosexuality and the impossibility of finding love in the gay scene?

David next plays on Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. at St. Vlad's.

Also on at the Fringe today:

Domestic, on at 3:15 p.m. at the Passe Muraille Backspace is a dark comedy with a really sassy poster and we've been hearing good things. If you're in the mood for something a bit meta, there's Teaching the Fringe over at the Glen Morris Theatre at 12:30 p.m., directed by the unstoppable TJ Dawe. A follow-up of sorts to actor/performer Keir Cutler's previous Fringe shows Teaching Shakespeare, Teaching Detroit, and Teaching As You Like It, Teaching the Fringe is Cutler's first autobiographical piece, dealing with some of the critical response he received for his last show.

Photo by Bryn Symonds.