Doubling up for comedy Two
TWO, the hilarious and heartwarming play by Jim Cartwright tells the story of a bickering husband and wife who run a pub.
The married couple and the dozen regulars who pass through their pub in an evening are played by two actors.
This week David Mears and Lucy Parrott take on that demanding task when Two comes to the Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford.
David recently performed as Bottom in the RSC’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and is artistic director of The Bear Pit Theatre.
Making her Bear Pit Theatre debut, Lucy has performed with numerous theatre companies and is a theatre practitioner by day. Here, the duo answered Herald arts’ questions with no bickering whatsoever.
What attracted you to the play?
David: It is a well-crafted play, full of powerful imagery, diverse characters and real relationships and you can really get your teeth stuck into the whole thing. I like the structure of the play, the monologues and duologues, the couples and the individuals. The challenge of playing seven different characters each, trying to get the correct balance between them all and make the play flow, is something I was intrigued by and wondered if I’d be able to do. This is a revival, why did you feel the need to play it again?
Lucy: David asked me if I’d like to do it again and I jumped at the chance, I quite fancied kicking about with him again! Since last performing the production in 2008 we’ve both got eight years more life experience between us and I was interested to see if our approach to playing the characters would alter because of this. I’m now a wife and a mum and I wanted to see if this would bring anything new to any of the characters.
Is there a director or how does it work between the two of you?
Lucy: David is very much the director and has a clear vision of what he wants, I just do my best to keep up with the man!
You play a bickering couple, what experiences do you draw on for your characters?
Lucy: It’s set in a pub and so, of course, necessary research has been carried out at my local. Funnily enough, my husband has been more than willing to help me with this. I’d never bicker with David, I save that for my husband! Why should audiences come and see it? Lucy: It’s always good to see people pushing themselves and we will certainly be doing that.
David: There are so many characters to relate to… It will make them laugh and make them cry all in the space of just over an hour! It’s exciting to watch and it’s short, so they will get their ‘theatre fix’ and can still fit in dinner and a couple of drinks! Everyone’s a winner!
WHERE AND WHEN: Two is on at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford, from 14th to 22nd October 8pm (3pm matinée on 22nd). Tickets, £10 (£8 concessions), are available from the www.thebearpit.org.uk or from the RSC box office in person or by calling 01789 403416.