Just The Two Of Us is an absurd, ridiculous, and brilliant ode to iconic double acts.
This show starts with 2 babies suckling from hairy wolf breasts. I repeat, this show starts with 2 babies suckling from hairy wolf breasts.
This absurd opening instantly sets the tone for the comedic whirlwind brought to you by the double act Soft Play, consisting of Maria Telnikoff and Vidya Divakaran. Their stated mission is to “To play every great duo in history.” While this is a lofty aim which they certainly do not meet, the audience is instead treated to a cavalcade of utterly insane choices for double acts, ranging from the truly unexpected, like salt and pepper (the seasonings, not the music duo), to a highly inaccurate take on Wham! The structure is a series of short vignettes and comedy skits featuring famous duos, with choreography and lip synching liberally sprinkled in for good measure.
This show is stupid. Unabashedly, unashamedly, and brilliantly stupid. It definitely took a solid ten minutes to fully settle into the show’s chaotic rhythm, but once I was in the right headspace I had a riot of a time. That initial, aforementioned cross-species breast-feeding was a bold choice, but it served its purpose perfectly by immediately signaling the ridiculous tone the show was committed to.
Both performers, Telnikoff and Divakaran, gave incredibly committed performances which must be commended, only slipping out of character for a few endearing moments. While some of the gurning felt a bit over the top at times, the entire show is over the top and delightfully ridiculous so perhaps this was entirely in-keeping with the vibe.
One slight drawback is that the humor perhaps relies a little too heavily on audience recognition. If you don’t have a working knowledge of High School Musical 1 & 2, for instance, some of the jokes will go entirely over your head. Similarly, the extended section centered on Bend It Like Beckham would be genuinely confusing if you’ve never seen the film.
In conclusion, this is not a show that you will be able to feel neutral about. As the show started I was convinced I was in for a difficult time, but I was slowly won over and embraced the ridiculousness. Go in with the right mindset and I suspect you will also have a great time.
The show played at the Camden People’s Theatre October 29th – 31st. Soft Play also runs a comedy cabaret night called Soft Play Area in east London