Two (2004)

Poster by Nick Mansley and Steve Marchant (photo - Mark Davies)

by Jim Cartwright

Directed by Emma Hillman

Performances: 12th – 15th May 2004, Prompt Corner

Introduction

'Laughter,love,lamentations and lager...' Set in a northern pub owned by a savagely bickering husband and wife, TWO is a series of short vignettes that skilfully combines pathos and humour, with all fourteen characters played by just two actors who drag us through the whole gamut of emotions.

During the course of the evening in this pub, assorted customers pass in and out; including the hilarious Alice and Fred who've 'never been the same since Elvis died' and the abusive husband and his terrified partner whose power struggle is one of the most emotionally charged scenes I have ever seen. Towards the end, a little boy is left behind by his father- an event which triggers a movement towards a fragile reconciliation between the pub couple, as their own dark tragedy is revealed. All these characters are linked by the bar, but also by their battle with love and their conflicts between public facade and private emotion. This is a hilarious and moving play and is guaranteed to touch a nerve. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you have a pint!

"A sharp, salty, quickfire evocation of the surface gaiety and underlying melancholia of English pub life." (Michael Billington, The Guardian)

"Riveting ... more laughs, tears and hopes than you should really expect." Sunday Telegraph

Winner of the Manchester Evening News Best Play award 1989

Cast

• Landlord, Moth, Old Man, Mr Iger, Roy, Fred, Little Boy - Phillip Gill
• Landlady, Old Woman, Maudie, Mrs Iger, Lesley, Alice, Woman - Maggie Cearns

Crew

• PA - Emma Wilson
• Stage Manager - Jess Osorio
• Front of House - David Lomas
• Set Design - Graham Clements, Emma Hillman, Emma Wilson, Christine Theophilus
• Prompt - Ray Barratt
• Lighting Design - Anna York, Phil Gammon
• Lighting Operator - Mike Smart
• Sound Design - Emma Hillman, Emma Wilson, Christopher Vian-Smith
• Original Music - Adam Everard
• Sound Operator - Ronae Joliffe
• Costume - Jess Osorio, Jenny Bennett
• Photography - Mark Davies
• Publicity - Dee Fancett

Thanks to: Anton Krause, Bernie Bullbrook, Chris Theophilus, Bob Callender, Paul Hurley, Elaine Heath, Dave Kavanagh, Helen Chadney, Alan Buckman, Will Howard, Marian Buss, Cast of Miseer and Siobhan at The Hope for the loan of tables and chairs.

Reviews

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Gallery

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Reminiscences and Anecdotes

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See Also

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External Links

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