Two

~~One Pub – Two Actors – Fourteen Characters.  This is how this play is advertised and it really did work.

Claire Armstrong-Millis’s production was funny, sad and thought provoking and looked at the custumers who came into the pub and the couple who own the premises.

Simon Baker and Susie May Lynch greeted us as the landlord and landlady of the very busy pub.  Then between them they also played the twelve other characters.  I do admire these two actors as the very large chunks of dialogue and accents they had to learn was amazing.  They also had some very quick changes.  The pair found reasons to leave the wonderful bar set and re-appear as a different person.  We meet along the way a little boy who had lost his father.  The Scottish couple with the abusive relationship.  Macho-Man Moth and the couple from Liverpool. And the couple with the wife who was totally obsessed with strong muscular men.

Even though we had two stars on the stage there was another, the set.  Colin Edge and the set building team pulled out all the stops.  So realistic it was untrue.  Even down to the slated floor and the flock wallpaper.  Join this together with the lighting and it was just right. 

The final scene in the play gave us an insight into the landlord and lady’s private life.  The tragedy they had survived in the past.

A compelling play, well acted and directed.

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