Presented by STARC Productions
Reviewed 5 July 2018
There’s always a story behind the outer façade of ordinary people and Two explores the somewhat humorous, sometimes depressing lives of those found in a local English pub.
Taking one individual night, Two delves into the varied stories of the patrons in their North England pub from first drinks to last call, and even the alcoholic aftermath once the doors are closed. The audience is first introduced to the married landlord and landlady whose relationship is obviously struggling underneath the weight of a dark secret. From there, characters tumble onto the stage: Moth loves Maud, but also every other woman he lays eyes on; Mrs Iger doesn’t hold back on her lust for muscly men; possessive and emotionally abusive Roy controls wife Lesley’s every move; and severely overweight couple Alice and Fred share an Elvis obsession.
Two is a play of 14 characters with vastly different personalities, acted out by only two performers. Director Tony Knight has set up the stage to strategically allow for the actors to have time and room to physically change while not distracting from the other actor’s scene. The set is a simple design with only a couple of chairs for the actors to utilise, allowing for the various characters’ personalities to be the key focus.
The script is occasionally flat and mundane, but does create its fair share of laugh-out-loud moments, especially with the witty banter between many of the couples. There are also quite brilliant moments of dialogue such as the description of Elvis dying “of a choked-up bum”.
Both actors give exciting and entertaining performances as they take on the roles of various pub patrons. Stefanie Rossi, while a comedic delight in most scenes, is most powerful when portraying a heartbroken mother who just wants to mend the relationship with her husband. Marc Clement masterfully swings from the humour of sleazy, wanna-be womaniser Moth to the danger of threatening and possessive Roy. Both Rossi and Clement pair well together on stage and hopefully this won’t be the last we see of them together.
Two provides an interesting look at the various faces of a local pub and the stories behind their outward demeanour. The play delves beneath the surface to find what truly lies underneath, whether that is pure love, happiness, self-doubt or grief.
**Warning: Depictions of domestic violence**
Reviewed by Georgina Smerd
Twitter: @Georgie_xox
Venue: Bakehouse Theatre, 255 Angas Street, Adelaide
Season: Thursday 4 – Saturday 14 July
Duration: 70 mins
Tickets: $20 – $28
Bookings: http://www.bakehousetheatre.com/shows/two-jim-cartwright
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