Theatre

In our life’s journey, it’s safe to say that we may likely get to experience the gamut of relational dynamics. Some may be genuine, some may be deemed unhealthy or harmful; but more often than not; they are largely played out behind closed doors, where couples may hide their truth from the outside world for privacy’s sake, or in deeper cases, to protect the masks they portray to the outside world.

But in the case of playwright Jim Cartwright, his masterful take on the complexity of human relationships, his play aptly entitled ‘Two’, turns the ‘behind-closed-doors’ theory on its head – instead having the audience focus on the fractured relationship between a boisterous, bickering landlord and his counterpart, a landlady – both publicans of a working- class Northern English pub. Tasking us ‘head-first’ with a particular duty – of piecing together the ‘why’s’ behind the ‘cocktail of cracks’ we are witnessing in their relationship. Is it largely due to infidelity? Or is it simply a love/hate relationship where both parties have simply outgrown one another?

But wait — that is not all. For Cartwright dared to take it one step further, and distract us from the issue at hand; perhaps to set the record straight. Setting this couple’s woes aside, we remain glued to this pub setting, and instead are greeted by a revolving door of 14 other pub patrons (all played to perfection by the show’s only 2 leads), where we get to experience the gamut of different relationship dynamics, and how both genders choose to survive within walls of light vs shade; of the highest-of-highs, to the woest-of-woes. There are comedic moments, as well as grimmer ones that are at times, harder to bear witness to.

The difference in this play? Is that surprisingly, BOTH genders are shown in these scenes to be equally as lustful, resilient, bittersweet, deeply troubled and lonely. Posing a question to us about the power play in romantic relationships. Do they go both ways? Are there indeed two sides to the coin? And if so; can both sexes sometimes be deemed equally good or bad, when it comes to relationships?

As we start to question this, Cartwright cleverly places us back into the first dynamic – the blaring energy of the landlord and landlady, to piece together whether there is any hope left in their fractured relationship.

Speaking of which, the landlord, played by the very charismatic Chris Mentor, is simply mesmerising as he is so nuanced in every character he plays. From a sensitive 7 year old boy, to a damaged husband, to a widower tenderly describing his grief. And yet, his presence is unwavering and strong; remaining confident and courageous enough to tell stories that range from deeply funny to deeply broken. From his seamless performance, it is clear why Chris Mentor was cast in this demanding lead role.

As the Landlady, Angelique Pascoe is exquisite, and her energy of ferocity perfectly matched the role required to play the landlord’s counterpart. Every part she played had the bite and the stacks of humour needed to play such complex female characters, many who owned difficult backgrounds and stories not for the faint-hearted. But she conquered each tale with aplomb, as if it spoke to her heart, completely.

Cartwright’s powerful play ‘Two’, is brilliantly directed by Natasha Boyd, who has perfected in her actors the precise bridging of comedy vs pathos needed to keep us hooked; gripping us in every scene with a spectrum of human emotion and an unbridled energy that pulls no punches. Where in a span of 80 minutes, the audience is fully immersed in a fly-on-the-wall experience of witnessing a vivid cross-section of complex characters come to life inside the closed door of a pub. Where we can bear witness to what it truly means to be human in our most challenging moments.

And lastly, I feel it fitting to mention the incredible set design crew that brought this little English pub to life. From the detailed 80”s lighting fixtures to the bright and jolly jukebox. From the old wooden bar and classic dartboard to the colourful wall-to-wall postered ads all in their fine 80’s form. From every angle, not one detail was left out — even creating a makeshift hallway with paintings off one side of the stage, bringing the aspect of pure realism to the audience, whichever way their eyes looked.

All this, was what indeed made STAG’s ‘Two’ a dramatic experience like no other, filled with a scope of comedy, grit, storytelling and a sum of surprises – making this a winning night out at the theatre.

To book tickets to Two, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1528222.

Photographer: Dave Swann

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