A hilarious and horrifying satirical triumph.
On a dark and stormy night in Dalston, The Double Act transported critics and theater goers to a storm laden “maisonette” where old comedy-partners, Billy and Cliff, reunite, and their ghosts come back to bite them. This new work at the Arcola Theatre is doubly hilarious and horrifying: a must see for satire enthusiasts.
The Double Act takes place over the course of one evening in the fictitious run-down resort town of Saltmouth. Dried up comedian Billy Bash, played by Nigel Betts, is in town for the final night of his final tour clenching to the remains of his title as “Britain’s Third Most Offensive Comedian”. Before taking the stage, he stops at the maisonette of his ex-double act partner Cliff, a comedian, turned criminal, turned “clinically insane” eccentric python owner, played by Nigel Cooke. The duo’s reconciliation is brokered by a seemingly benign upstairs tenant and caretaker, Gulliver (Edward Hogg), who’s initially pure intentions become increasingly doubtful.
This play is absurd in the best possible sense of the word. The plot, circumstances, and characters are incredibly ridiculous and non-realistic. However, the question of what makes someone good or evil at the heart of this play is interrogated with more real diligence than I’ve seen in many hyper-naturalistic dramas. The Double Act is a three-hander in which no character is good, nor obviously evil. They have all done bad things and have sometimes had good intentions. Are their wrong actions wrought by nature or nurture? Are they motivated by ignorance or malice? This uncertainty inherent in the human condition, makes these three fools innately truthful.
This moral ambiguity is bolstered by the satire embedded in the script. The Double Act is journalist turned playwright Mark Jagasia’s second full-length play. Jagasia’s newsroom background bleeds through the work as some jokes play as if they’ve been ripped from the headlines. Both Billy and Cliff are self-described bigoted, sexist, racist comics. Billy does not care whom his jokes hurt if his audience gets a good laugh. The Double Act not only challenges the validity of this right-wing stereotype but does so through humor. In judging everyone, no one is alienated. Jagasia actively engages with provocative topics and dismantles taboo talking points into moral questions about how we engage with our current media landscape. Let’s just say I have never heard a more thoughtful “Hitler joke”. Jagasia’s comedy, while edgy, is brilliant.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed The Double Act, the pacing at the top of the show could be tightened. The play starts off quite slow and takes its time to warm up. Jumping into the world of the comedy sooner would make the exposition at the beginning more engaging. However, my main critique of The Double Act is the play’s ending. While the final scene of the play is brilliant, the penultimate plot point, though shockingly entertaining, departs from the notion of moral ambiguity and nuance that the play so excellently establishes throughout. I can’t provide more details without major spoilers, but I wish the penultimate action was less severe so that the play’s overarching theme of moral impurity could sustain.
Criticisms aside, The Double Act is an excellent piece of new work. Not only is the script compelling, but director Oscar Pearce has brought it to life as an atmospheric clown show. The level of specificity in the acting, sound, costume, and set design support each other to build the world of this spooky “maisonette”. For example, at one point when Gulliver opened one of Cliff’s notebooks, I saw that it was not only completely filled in, but had coffee stains and drawings on the pages. Similarly, the soundtrack which features songs such as “Freedom” by Wham and AC/DCs “Highway to Hell” reinforce the conundrum of nostalgia as it pertains to Bill and Cliff’s comedic tone. This attention to detail evident throughout the piece further transports the audience to this sinfully silly night in Saltmouth.
If you like the supernatural, or the politically incorrect The Double Act is the fringe work you’ve been looking for. It is a play that is scary, silly, thought provoking, and even has an “imaginary” snake. The Double Act is satirical gold.