Two by Jim Cartwright

Two

By Jim Cartwright

Royal Exchange Theatre, 23 January 2012

Photo - Jonathan Keenan

It’s a double header, and that in two senses.

For a start, Justin Moorhouse and Victoria Elliott play all the parts: they’re the landlord and landlady of a pub, and they take on the roles of various customers an’ all.

Now the first part of the play meanders towards the maudlin, the sentimental, the ‘touching’ and the jokey.  In fact, at one point it was in danger of becoming simply a vehicle for Moorhouse’s brand of comedy.  Not necessarily a bad thing, of course, but that’s not the play.

However, the second part, post-interval as it were, was darker and altogether more serious.  An abusive relationship or two was to be found on the demonstration slab, for one thing.  We also got the nitty-gritty – an excoriating revelation, it’s known as in the trade – as regards this couple who run the pub.

When time is called, it is clear that this has been a vital production of a play with much to say still about men and women, the battle between the sexes, gender-related guerrilla skirmishes, and all that.  You get the picture.

If you’re a glass half-empty kind of chap, you might say, ‘Go easy on the jokes and the calls of “Hey, lads…” ‘  But still: a thumbs up, it has to be.

Two is at the Royal Exchange Theatre until 25 February, further details are here.

Carlos Acosta’s Premieres Plus

Carlos Acosta’s Premieres Plus
The Lowry, 25 July 2011

In this show Carlos Acosta performed works by several choreographers; and with consummate technique he showed his class.

His performance of Russell Maliphant’s ‘Two’ in the first part was spellbinding; it seemed to be of eternal duration.

It should be emphasised that Zenaida Yanowsky played an approximately equal part in proceedings, and her interpretation of Kim Brandstrup’s ‘Footnote to Ashton’ came close to perfection.  Rarely can a dance have been realised as fully, as completely.  Her rhythmic imperiosity created dynamic fact.

Looking at Premieres Plus as a whole, the show had an elegiac/commemorative/remembrance flavour to it.  It was all about bringing someone to mind, paying tribute to who and what they were, expressing gratitude for all they’ve given and been.  This was especially apparent in the final candle-lit work, as too in Miguel Altunaga’s ‘Memoria’ performed earlier in the show.

Premieres Plus is touring at the minute, further details here.