Ian McKellen first came to fame when he appeared in the West End, at the Piccadilly Theatre, in 1970 in a double-bill of Shakespeare’s Richard II and Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II, playing two homosexual kings.
Fifty years on he is playing a homosexual commoner called Percy in a tender two-hander by Ben Weatherill, opposite Roger Allam, who is playing Frank.
Two elderly and lonely gentlemen, walking their dogs on Hampstead Heath, meet. The dogs establish an immediate relationship off-stage and continue to bark throughout the play.
Frank and Percy’s relationship takes longer. They chat and become friends. They chat a lot more and become lovers. Percy is a radical elder statesman and openly gay. Frank, a retired schoolteacher and widower, rediscovers he is bisexual.
The play is a lot of short scenes. There are visits to restaurants and the doctors. They take part in a Pride march dressed in rainbow colours. They enjoy a karaoke night together. The scene which makes the most impact is a visit to the vet.
Am I interested in Frank and Percy? Not really. I am more interested in McKellen and Allam and I suspect this is true of most audiences. Their drawing power is such that their London season has already been extended to December 17.
I came out of the theatre, wishing they were appearing in something more exciting and wondering if a revival of David Storey’s Home would be a good idea?
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