Darlington Hippodrome – until 22 September 2018
5*****
Tom Kempinski’s play Duet For One is a stunningly written two handed play about Stephanie Abrahams (Belinda Lang), a talented violinist struck down in her prime with Multiple Sclerosis and her consultations with German Psychologist Dr Feldmann (Jonathan Coy).
The audience in Darlington were treated to an epic masterclass in acting in only two hours. Lang plays Stephanie, frustrated at the disease taking away her life. She explains playing the violin is her life and her heartbreak at not being able to ever play again is palpable and a profound sense of loss. Her moods turn instantly, from sardonic wit to tumultuous anger, from bright false hope to raw pain. Performing in an electric wheelchair, each scene strips something from her and her appearance, posture and demeanor alter as she deteriorates in front of us.
Coy’s Feldmann is a sounding board for her wit, her sarcasm, her irritability and hostility. He listens but he also attacks. His anger at her is brief but it makes its point. The stillness feels deliberate, and the performance is all the more powerful for its restraint and intelligence. Coy has little to say, but he creates a highly sympathetic, wise and comic character out of almost nothing. But while Stephanie is frustrated at her life, he is frustrated with Stephanie
Les Brotherston’s set is a stunning room, filled with book, CD’s and tapes. The sound system plays sublime bursts of violin music to echo the change in the scene. The window’s look out on to tree’s and Dr Feldmann sits at his wooden desk. The words echo around the room as they discuss Stephanie’s lack of children, her relationships with her husband, her parents and the man she alleges to be having an affair with
Whilst many believed this was based on Jacqueline Du Pre’s fight with MS and her loss to the Cello playing world, it is in fact based on Kempinski’s life – an essay of raw emotion and wit that draws the observer in. There is little sentimentally in the subject matter but a compelling powerful drama that I would urge everyone to see