The Other Palace – until 17 December 2023
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
Usually when two great actors perform on stage together, they’re battling it out in a hard-hitting drama, so to see Ian McKellen and Roger Allam have a ball in this gently meandering romantic comedy is a breath of fresh air.
Ben Weatherill’s charming story of two older men meeting on their daily walks with their dogs (unseen but a chorus of yelps and barks making their presence known) and the friendship that develops into love is warm and witty. Frank (Allam) is a widowed retired teacher who lost his beloved wife to cancer while Percy is still active in his field, a professor lecturing around the world and writing books with an ex-husband living around the corner and a daughter in Australia.
Percy’s lack of inhibitions and confidence as a gay man allows Frank to finally explore and confirm his sexuality, realising that he is bisexual. The couple’s romance is written beautifully, with the men carrying and demonstrating an easy acceptance of each other’s recognisable baggage from their past. There are some sticking points in the relationship – notably their attitudes to dog care – which lead to breakups, but it is always clear that these two men have an innate connection and should end up together.
Frank’s wistful reminiscing about his wife highlights Percy’s reluctance to talk about his past relationships without deflecting with humour, and when Percy’s mask of confidence drops and McKellen lets the audience see the frightened and lonely man behind the snarky jokes, it becomes clear how much he needs Frank in his life. Percy’s life story lays bare the prejudice and hate faced as a gay man in the 1970s, and McKellen is at his best flitting between biting wit and world-weary sorrow as the men discuss the changes that have been, and still need to be, made.
The ups and downs of the relationship are great fun to watch – Frank’s first Pride and karaoke are glorious moments – but the inevitable health scares (both human and canine) that happen in later life through a few spanners in the works to ensure not all is plain sailing. The tone is somewhere between Alan Bennett and Victoria Wood – familiar and comforting, and very funny.
Nick Richings lighting design and Andy Graham’s sound design evoke the changing seasons on Morgan Large’s minimal but gloriously evocative set. Sean Mathias’ s confident direction ensures the gentle pace never lags as the two extraordinary actors create magic together.
Allam and McKellen are a joy to watch in this charming and quietly moving warm hug of a romantic comedy.