Stage Whispers reviews Two By Two

Karen Coombs reviews Two by Two for Stage Whispers.  See the review in its original context here.

Noah’s Ark is a biblical story that at times is depicted as a charming tale of God’s creatures walking two by two into the safety of an enormous ark. At its crux, though, is an apocalyptic event of a grieving God about to destroy his creation with world-wide deluge – only one family, and one male and female of every living creature are saved.

Two by Two, the winner of the Malcolm Robertson Prize in 2011, transports this ancient story into the 21st century, a futuristic Melbourne that is facing the potential end-of-the-world due to torrential rain and the threat of the dams about to rupture.

Against this cataclysmic backdrop is a domestic setting of a contented married couple, Jack and Carl (yes, this is set in the future), who, because they are unable to procreate as a couple, are rejected for a place on the boat by the powers-that-be.

The boat, the flood: who is chosen to live or die, is used as an allegory is to make a comment on modern-day society and its politics. The play gives a nod to the present polite tolerance of minorities, but when the rubber hits the road, quiet prejudice still pervades.

As Jack and Carl act on the innate human will to survive and dream up all sorts of futile plans to fight their way onto the boat, their real fight is to keep believing in their own worth, even though the circumstances spell-out the contrary. At its heart this is a love story, a love that wins in the end though tested to the extreme.

Despite the weighty themes, there is plenty of timely comic relief. A female character called Duckie, and the baby she has found, brings the necessary layers and complexity to the narrative.

Carl, Jack and Duckie played by Gary Abrahams, Paul Blenheim and Zahra Newman, are three endearing characters performed by youthful and charming actors that keep the audience well engaged.

Karen Coombs
Stage Whispers
14/02/2012