Review: The Speed Twins at Riverside Studios

The Speed Twins
Riverside Studios (Studio 3)
Reviewed on Tuesday 3rd September 2013

The Speed Twins is a new play which, according to press material, "unleashes an explosive and darkly comic conflict of desires and challenges us all to ask fundamental questions about identity." This is a bold statement and I'm not sure this is something Maureen Chadwick's play necessarily achieves.  The Speed Twins is set in The Gateways Club (a secret venue which welcomed lesbians when when nobody else did) and follows Queenie, who has to face her lesbian feelings when she is reunited with a ghost from her past.

Amanda Boxer keeps the piece moving as lovable Ollie (who is often found behind the bar). Ollie's one liners didn't stop coming and often had the audience in stitches. In fact, Maureen Chadwick's writing is intellectually witty, meaning there is often a few seconds between the joke and the laughter as the audience need time to digest what has been said. The comedy isn't only verbal, elements of slapstick are used too (the throwing of water etc, nothing particularly groundbreaking). 

While I loved the comedy it made the piece quite shallow, meaning some of the softer, and what should have been heartwarming, moments didn't always work. On several occasions I felt slightly touched, but if done well the play would have potential to be an incredibly moving piece of theatre. Good performances also come from Polly Hemingway as Queenie and Mia Mackie as Shirley. The cast of three bounce well off each other.

We also see Queenie reliving the fateful motorbike crash that she walked away from fifty years ago. I don't want to give away the final scene in case you decide to book a trip to see The Speed Twins, but I just don't think it worked - I felt as if it was the easy option. Around ten minutes before the play actually ended I felt as if it was coming to its natural conclusion before it proceeded to go on... and on. Certain other moments dragged, the heat and uncomfortable seating did not help. The Speed Twins provides an alternative evening at the theatre, the context surrounding the The Gateways Club is utterly fascinating (and well worth googling).

Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)

andrew@westendframe.com

The Speed Twins runs at Riverside Studios until Saturday 28th September 2013.
Please visit www.riversidestudios.co.uk for further information and tickets.

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