Review: Twin tale is a real winner

Sep 12 2009 by Andrew Coleman, Birmingham Mail

REVIEW

GERALD Moon has written a very clever, very funny, very demanding play – and David Stone’s superb production meets it head-on, perhaps even pulling out more stops than the author realised were there.

Dexter Whitehead plays twin brothers, one of whom is a camp and extrovert actor who is anxious to have the other one murdered by a hapless crook – for whom nothing goes according to plan. Mr Whitehead suffers much for his art, with impossibly quick changes – one of which understandably resulted on the first night in an appearance with his flies undone – and a prolonged perspirational period in which he wears a heavy overcoat. He copes magnificently.

Adrian Venables, too, is in excellent form as the long-suffering hitman. Julie Lomas, as the bibulous neighbour, and Terry Atkinson, as the well-intentioned policeman, complete a fine cast, whose efforts are rewarded by a splendid two-part set.

I am sure I was not the only one who went home wondering how many secret trap-doors were involved in meeting all the technical demands. It’s a winner all the way and it runs to September 19.

VERDICT: 5/5

JOHN SLIM