Two

> Eye Theatre

Some of the best acting in a two-hander can be witnessed at Eye Theatre in its latest production.

Billed as a comedy, there is pathos behind the brash and bickering landlord and landlady of a north country pub as well as the motley collection of other characters.

Neil Herriot and Milli James, playing no fewer than 14 parts be-tween them, were simply magnificent.

Their timing was immaculate - they slipped in and out of their contrasting roles with ease and perfected the art of changing costumes, hairstyles and footwear in record time.

Designed by playwright Jim Cartwright for a cast of two, the action takes place over one night in the busy pub.

The proprietors seek to hide their true feelings by sparring with one another while at the same time endeavouring to present themselves as congenial hosts to their customers.

Herriot coped well with the change from a young philanderer, an old man, a jealous and aggressive bully and a hen-pecked husband to a young boy who had been forgotten by his father while his partner was superb in her transformation to an old woman who escapes to the pub after the traumas of looking after a disabled husband, a butch and domineering wife, a downtrodden girlfriend and an Elvis Presley fanatic.

The pair were particularly memorable as the gormless TV- watching couple who even managed to make themselves look obese.

Throughout the action, tears were never far away, with the final theme sensitively handled by the talented duo under the capable direction of Clare Prenton.

The play runs until Saturday, April 9.