Written by Ray Cooney in 1984, Two Into One focuses on one of Cooney’s favourite topics - infidelity - this time among England’s political elite. Cooney depicts politicians as hypocritical sex fiends far more concerned with satisfying their hormonal urges than serving their constituents.
In Two Into One, the cheater is MP Richard Willey. It’s not a particularly good time to be a philandering Brit politician. Rupert Murdoch isn’t yet hacking phones and digging up dirt on members of the British government, but under famously prudish Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher her government has adopted a puritanical platform.
On the eve before voting on a bill that would outlaw pornography, everyone in Parliament is on their best behaviour - everyone except Willey. While his colleagues prepare to debate, Willey is attempting to bed the Leader of the Opposition’s secretary in a London hotel. All ministerial aide George Pidgen has to do is book a hotel room for Willey to meet his mistress. But the bumbling assistant makes a series of disastrous mistakes, and extreme complications ensue in two adjoining suites.
The play has been described as "a spectacular delight from one of the great farcuers of the 20th century."
Ray Cooney began his theatrical career as a boy actor in Song of Norway at the Palace Theatre in 1946. Following a period in repertory theatres around the UK, he joined the Brian Rix Company at the Whitehall Theatre, and it was during this period he began his writing career, which has included the West End hits Move Over Mrs Markham, Runfor Your Wife, Out of Order (Olivier Award for Best Comedy), It Runs In the Family, Funny Money, Caught in the Netand many more. In 1983, he formed the Theatre of Comedy at the Shaftesbury Theatre and became its first Artistic Director. In February 2013, the film of his most successful play, Run for Your Wife, directed by Ray, had its world premiere in Leicester Square and is now out on DVD.
Two Into One will be designed by Paul Farnsworth (Candide, Charley’s Aunt, The Invisible Man and Smash), with lighting by Paul (Candide, Proof, Torch Song Trilogy, Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine) and sound by Gregory Clarke (The Color Purple, Travels with my Aunt and Proof).
Casting to be announced. Public booking commences 30th January.
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