Two

"Two" by Jim Cartwright is a play set in an English pub, focusing on the relationships between its various patrons and the pub's landlord and landlady. It is a very clever script and brings out various emotions from the characters and indeed the audience alike.  As soon as I walked into the room, I felt I had actually walked into the pub, audience were sat at tables around the acting area and feeling very much as though they were in the bar.

The play made me think back to my early days of visiting various locals where the emphasis was on drink and conversation not food and mobile phones. We were introduced to the Landlady and Landlord played by Chelsea Stanway and Ashley Hyden, and soon realised that there was a tense relationship there without yet knowing the cause of the tension, later finding out that it was due to a family tragedy. They were the link between all the characters we were introduced to as regulars in the pub, they both remained in character throughout, putting on a brave face in front of customers and revealing true feelings when alone with each other. They seemed completely at ease working so closely to the audience and were very believable. The other characters appeared and portrayed different scenarios relevant to many of people today. Linda Askew as the Old Woman was isolated on stage and gave a moving monologue about loneliness in old age and caring for the one you love … and taking refuge in her Guiness!  Jake Betts and Rebecca Wayte were the young couple who liked to visit their local, Jake with the roving eye for the ladies and Rebecca the girlfriend who just wanted to please him. Once again, both actors were so believable and portrayed their characters with confidence. Brian Washington was the Old Man, a regular who took solace in his local, his monologue was moving as he reflected on the loss of his wife, Brian’s delivery was perfect for the situation and spoke volumes about his character.

Mr Iger, played by Alex Wooliscroft, is the down-trodden husband who does exactly as his wife, April Nuechterlein, tells him. It is often the hidden situation in everyday life, but Alex and April really brought it to life. There was a great transformation when Alex eventually decided to take control and April was the perfect foil for him. Michelle and Dave Beere, gave us the more familiar scenario where the man takes control of everything his wife does, including going to the toilet! Both of them put in such commanding performances that I’m sure that some would find the situation a little uncomfortable as it was so true to life. Alice and Fred, played by Louise Johnson and Sharon Bolan, were the couple who used their local for a warm space, bringing the situation up to date by just watching things on their ‘tablet’, a situation that I’m sure many of us have witnessed when being out for the evening. It was a humorous performance from both of them but with a very evident meaning to it.  Of course, no pub would be complete with the drunk! Julie Hunter had the pleasure of playing that part, drink had taken over and when that happens then emotions tend to run higher than normal. Again, Julie extracted just the right amount of humour from the situation without it becoming a farce. Finally, Owen Askey just appeared from nowhere. He was the young boy who came into the pub, suitably clad in pyjamas and slippers, looking for his dad. He was so convincing and tugged at the audience’s heartstrings, so confident in delivery of his lines and at ease performing on stage, he is certainly one for the future.

The whole play portrayed a mixture of emotions without being too dark, the actors did exactly what they had to do to convince the audience of their own situations, every one of them so believable and there was something for everyone to associate with. With a play like this, the lighting can make or break the atmosphere and the technicians on Lighting and Sound did an excellent job. The changes from scene to scene were spot on.

A final mention must go to Em Askey who directed the play, there was obvious clear instruction given to the actors and an excellent use of all parts of the set, congratulations Em on a first-class production by Cannock Chase Drama.

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