HOPE MILL THEATRE, MANCHESTER – UNTIL SATURDAY 9TH MARCH 2024
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
4****
The Hope Mill Theatre, which won the Fringe Venue Of The Year at The Stage in 2018, is a well-known and highly regarded intimate venue. For their latest production, The Gap, they have brought together two exceptional talents who are also long-time friends. Matthew Kelly and Denise Welch, who are both highly respected actors, first met over twenty years ago at Granada Studios. They have returned to Manchester to star in this two-person production. The play has been written by renowned Northwest playwright Jim Cartwright, who is famous for his work on Road and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.
We are introduced to Walter and Corral, fifty years after they last saw each other, living in sheltered accommodation and a council-run nursing home. The play takes the form of an interview. They are unexpectedly reunited for a magical night due to a chance phone call. They proceed to share with us their life story, of two young friends who makes the decision to leave behind their home in the North and escape to the vibrant atmosphere of 1960’s Soho. They later become estranged but eventually reconcile, albeit reluctantly, just in the nick of time, a nostalgic journey filled with love, loss, heartbreak and comedy.
Kelly and Welch both portray multiple supporting roles in addition to their main characters, effortlessly switching accents and quickly changing costumes. These clever changes not only add to the hilarity of the performance, but also enhance the storytelling and helps indicate the time period in each scene. Cartwright’s sharp script have humorous lines and touching moments, all delivered by these two highly skilled and experienced actors. Their ability to captivate the audience and their impeccable comedy timing are exceptional.
The creative team enriches the immersive quality of the production, effortlessly transporting the audience between the present and the past with evocative musical tracks. The lighting and projections are beautifully done, creating a realistic backdrop against which the narrative unfolds.
A beautiful piece of theatre and fundamentally a story about the lasting strength of human relationships.