Double Act

Review by Sam

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Exploring mental health through a comedic lense, Nick Hyde's award-winning play arrives at Southwark Playhouse.

Suitably named, Double Act is performed by two actors (Nick Hyde and Oliver Maynard) taking on the persona of an unnamedprotagonist living out his final day on earth. We follow them as they interact with a multitude of characters, including multiple tense internal conversations, each slowly peeling back another layer of the characters vailed persona. What remains by the end of this 90 minute emotional rollercoaster, is a gut-wrenchingly visceral conversation about mental health which is both profoundly moving and deeply authentic.

There is so much to love about this intimate yet grande production, as Hyde's writing beautifully articulates mental health struggles and unashamedly explores human existence through a comedic and heart breaking lense. The clearest example of this is during the consistent narrative pauses where both jesters (wearing mime make up throughout) clown around as a method of distracting from their own struggles which are deeply rooted at the heart of this story. As this humour slowly deminishes, the mime make up is wiped away leaving the bare bones of the character as all that remains. This stripping away of comedy is an extremely powerful way to lead into the concluding moments of the piece, turning the emphasis towards the powerful dialogue which will remain with you long after you leave the theatre.

Acting as opposing sides of this split perosnality, both Hyde and Maynard each bring a creative flare that distinctively sets their performances apart from one another, whilst similarly working in tandem to illustrate the hive-mind of this character in a truly beautiful way. Despite knowing virtually anything about the protagonist, by the end of the play you feel that you know him all too well, quirks and all, as a result of their detailed portrayal.

Hyde's production showcases a poignant blend of comedy with emotional pathos as he articulates an important conversation around mental health and struggles faced in a highly original way.