Duo pick up the gauntlet of tough play in style

The last Old Town Theatre Company production I reviewed had a multitude in the cast. Frankie and Johnny written by Terrence McNally has just two.

Frankie and of course Johnny; in this case played by Lance Hodges and Fenella Harrop at Swindon's Arts Centre in Old Town.

To quote from the programme: "It allows us to explore Frankie and Johnny's darkest despairs and greatest desires".

The play is at times incredibly humourous with the lines delivered to perfection by Lance and Fenella.

At other times the poignancy comes across in situations we can all relate to. At least I know I could. In the words of one member of the audience during the interval, "That was cracking, the lines just flowed." I couldn't agree more. What a marathon to learn.

OTTC are never afraid to take on those plays that perhaps others wouldn't. They couldn't do it if they didn't have such accomplished actors as these two. They were totally believable, even if some members of the audience couldn't resist a giggle at what I considered inappropriate times. It is one of those plays that has a great deal of sexual content. It opens in total darkness with the sounds of lovemaking. It is also peppered with strong language. Without it the play just wouldn't work.

I think sometimes some members of the audience find this embarrassing. However, everything was just fine in these two actors' hands. They even co-directed it.

As usual nothing was left to chance with this company. Staging was excellent and the lighting atmospheric.

It was a brave choice, but as always I feel sure that the rest of the audience, like me, were engrossed in a very good piece of theatre from a company that takes on a challenge and more than fulfils it.

Ros Hollands