Two Fest 2020 (programme B) ☆☆☆
The Space, London

It’s a novel idea: take a selection of the best in up and coming playwrights; set the brief that it should be short two-handed plays only; then create a festival of spikey, fun and thoughtful new writing across three densely packed programmes; Voila! Two Fest! Queerguru is here to see programme B and especially the queer piece Going Outside.

Fifty/Fifty by Tamara von  Werthern   

This piece creates a delightfully awkward atmosphere as a mother-daughter relationship implodes in style over tea at the Ritz. Naomi Denny plays a taciturn young woman with a simmering tension whilst her mother is played with brittle neurosis by Sara Calvin. Just when you wonder if their overly polite conversation is going to lead anywhere the plot starts to ramp up and the penny drops “Does dad know I’m not his daughter?”. Nicely structured writing by Tamara von Werthern and good pacing by director Jessica Bickel-Barlow delivers a satisfying pay-off; Secrets and lies indeed.

Going Outside by Leon Fleming 

We are greeted by two young men centre stage and there is a palpable sexual tension. As an audience our minds race to make sense of the context. Slowly we realise that this is a Grindr hook up. One of them is a “minor” popstar and the press are hanging around outside. This scenario produces a mediation on the pros and cons, the moral rights and wrongs of coming out. The young man argues that it is our duty as part of the LGBTQ community to come out as each time we do we strengthen that community rather than surf on the backs of those braver than ourselves. Pop star argues “He’s not into labels – I’m not a tortured soul!”  Daniel N’Guessan-Lopez plays one half of the odd couple and is superb as a fast talking, articulate warrior for the cause whereas the hunky Jake Dove playing the pop star is a highly effective contrast; he is deliciously sardonic when he asks; “Are you always this intense?” This piece is very short which means it’s over before it really gets going but snappy dialogue by Leon Fleming leaves a great impression long after the last note of the playout music (Paparazzi by Gaga – of course!).

Protest by Rachael  Claye  
This piece is nicely cast with John Rayment giving an effective comic turn as Dad and Elizabeth Schenk as the put-upon social worker daughter. The climate crisis is urgent and as Dad says, “Where else does action begin if not at home?”. This funny, yet timely, bittersweet tale explores the personal and the political with a hint of reconciliation towards the end.

In the Mouth of the River by Louise Breckon-Richards 
Opting out, shutting off and hiding away all seem increasingly sensible options in 2020. ’In the Mouth of the River’ attempts to ask, ‘why then, are the people who make these choices punished and often aggressively singled out’?  Caron Kehoe plays the old lady living by the river with a touch of mystery and some vulnerability. She demands of the young interloper (Sarah Rickman) “Am I a virile young woman or an old hag?” and then cackles like a witch, somewhat answering her own question. Even though the dialogue was leaden at times, this is an atmospheric piece with some important questions about societal pressure to fit in, and the place of older women in modern societies.

Welcome to Mine by Francis Grin  
This quirky piece is initially set in Spain, in a once vibrant family home that is now being deserted as the family splits up and goes its separate ways. The piece includes a road trip and becomes part National Lampoon’s Vacation and part Rain Man and is very funny. The extensive use of reported speech (which grates after a while) does provide an opportunity for laughs, especially when Michael (Raphael von Blumenthal) playing one of many parts) does his yoga or has a gross-out mishap with an ageing pug.

Its an upbeat end to a nicely balanced selection of plays all of which stand proud on their own but also offer rich pickings for further development.

TWO FEST: PROGRAMME B
12 FEB – 22 FEB

https://space.org.uk/whats-on/

REVIEW : JONNY WARD

Jonny Ward, Queerguru Contributing EDITOR is a drama graduate but has worked backstage for many years at venues such as The ROYAL ALBERT Hall, The 02, Southbank Centre and is currently at The NATIONAL THEATRE. He lives in Hoxton, London and is delighted to check out the latest, the hottest and the downright dodgy in queer culture for Queerguru. (P.S. He is currently single)  @JonnyWard360