Duet For One has been a remarkably successful play over the years. It first opened at the Bush Theatre in 1980 after a debut at the fringe, then a long west end run, a transfer to Broadway and a major film with Julie Andrews and Max von Sydow. It has played many times since but I have never manged to see it until last night.
I nearly didnt go. A two hander is never an automatic choice for me, and the sparsely filled Oxford Playhouse showed how many others felt the same. A pity as they missed something very special. Tom Kempiski has written something quite marvellous as stricken world famous violinist Stephanie Abrahams consults psychotherapist (spellcheck changed this to physiotherapist first time round) Dr Feldman at the suggestion of her husband, the renowned composer David Liebermann. (Get the names?) The play is extremely clever in that it takes place over six sessions, each having it's own amazing identity, Stephanie's clothes in each suggesting something has changed.
Belinda Land is extraordinary as Stephanie. Taking over on last year's tour when Jemma Redgrave pulled out, she is quite brilliant. Jonathon Coy is quietly inquisitive at first, but this all changes in the second half. Robin Lefevre has brought the best out of the script and the actors and Lez Brotherston's set is perfect. What I couldn't get over was how much I laughed. This is not a comedy, but some of the language and delivery was very funny. Quite a night.
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