Twosomes is written by Philip Ayckbourn and produced by the Rabbit in Headlights production company. It was a series of six comedy two-handers.
In the first sketch, playwright Tim (Michael Bucke channelling his inner Basil Fawlty, one moment all awkward angles and the next raving), nervously offered his play to producer Helena (Jodie Kenison) who went the full Pseud’s Corner with a fountaining analysis of the metaphors and symbolism of a play she hadn’t yet read, including the deeper meaning of a cheese and pickle sandwich.
In the second sketch two androids, Ann and Roy, discuss the imperfections of humans, including their belief in God. Katina Thomas and Jodie Kenison had the voices and the mannerisms of robots off to a tee. Already I was chuckling.
In the third piece Michael Bucke’s magnificently paranoid Hamlet discussed conspiracy theories with a very down-to-earth Horatio played by Jon Terry. I loved the description of the ghost of Hamlet’s father as ‘your invisible friend’.
After the interval, a punning and glamorous Death (Katina Thomas) arrives a little early for her victim (Jon Terry), who thinks she might be a new kind of strippergram.
By now I was laughing out loud. In the fourth partnership, two lovers (Katina Thomas and Michael Bucke) discussed all the things they hate (‘people who ride their bikes on the pavement’ got the biggest response from the audience) until they realised that they each irritate the other.
In the final scene a man (another fan of cheese and pickle sandwiches) visits his late wife’s grave, unaware that her ghost is standing beside it: they both talk but he can’t hear her. The contrast between the almost immobile and laconic husband and the restless and talkative dead wife was superbly brought out by Jon Terry and Jodie Kenison.
In between the sketches the actors, one by one, spoke about aspects of what it means to be an actor. This ‘breaking of the fourth wall’ reminded me of a play (Circle, Mirror, Transformation) I had seen a fortnight previously, also at the Grove. What a coincidence! Perhaps this is a new vogue.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The scripts were superb, hitting notes that varied from poignant to hilarious. The characterisations were perfectly portrayed and the timing, crucial in comedy, was always spot on. Another triumph for a company who seem to get better with each production.
I rather like cheese and pickle sandwiches. Should I be worried?
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