Two of Us, at HOME, is an absorbing attempt at imagining the final meeting of Beatles members John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The play, set in 1976 and based on writer Mark Stanfield’s TV drama of the same name, takes place in Lennon’s New York apartment at a time when McCartney’s band Wings were at the height of their fame, while the reclusive Lennon had given up music in order to raise his son.
Throughout the play the two switch between friendly mocking and intense arguing which portrays a lifelong friendship well but feels slightly disjointed at times.
Barry Sloane excels as John Lennon with brilliant mannerisms to highlight the singer’s struggles, as well as impressive tone and range of emotion throughout the play.
Themes of fatherhood, parental neglect and co-dependence in relationships make it a difficult role but Sloane takes to the task admirably.
Jay Johnson does well imitating Paul McCartney’s voice and characteristics but perhaps lacks some of the emotional range Sloane shows as Lennon – yet this could be due to how troublesome this period of Lennon’s life was.
As expected, the topic of why the Beatles separated and whether they may ever reunite are touched on, but the play does well not to linger on these.
The friendship of the two is at the heart of the play, with Lennon’s relationship with Yoko Ono woven throughout.
The acting, set design and well-chosen subject matter ensures the writing, which is at times slightly forced, does not significantly detract from the play but ensures it lacks some bite.
However, it can be admitted that perhaps the clear potential of dramatising Lennon and McCartney’s final meeting creates high expectations for such a play.
Overall though Stanfield, fellow writer Richard Short, Johnson and Sloane have created an engaging play which gives Beatles’ fans a glimpse of what would have been a historic final meeting between two of the greatest musicians to have ever lived.
Two of Us, presented by Watford Palace Theatre, was on from 26 to 28 September at HOME.
Feature Image by Ross Kernahan
