Nick Hyde’s “Double Act” at Southwark Playhouse is a darkly comedic exploration of a man’s internal struggle, brought to life through a unique two-hander performance. The play delves into the complexities of mental health, using the dynamic of a classic comedy duo to personify the protagonist’s conflicting thoughts.
The premise is deceptively simple: a young man wakes up one morning and decides to end his life at Beachy Head. Before he gets there, though, he’s got a to-do list: a bucket list of mundane tasks and awkward encounters that range from reconnecting with an ex to navigating the hellscape of London Bridge station during rush hour. Played by Hyde and Oliver Maynard in tandem, the protagonist is a fragmented psyche brought to life by two actors who share the role like divorced parents splitting custody.
The actors don white face paint and lean into Pierrot-style clowning throughout. Does it always work? Not quite. Some of the clowning feels more tacked on than integral — like a garnish that doesn’t quite complement the dish.
Technically speaking, Double Act is impressive. The set design is sparse but versatile; train seats morph into café tables with the flick of a wrist, while lighting shifts from warm hues to icy blues to reflect the protagonist’s emotional highs and lows. The sound design deserves special mention—it’s subtle but effective, layering ambient noises like train announcements over moments of silence that feel almost deafening.
But the interesting part of Double Act apart is its exploration of mental health. Male suicide rates are at a high, and this production doesn’t shy away from asking hard questions about loneliness, societal pressures, and the quiet desperation that drives people to the edge..
I couldn’t help wishing the show was shorter. At 90 minutes without an interval, it doesn’t work. It feels like a one hour Edinburgh show that has had an extra 30 minutes slapped on to justify appearing at an off West End venue. Losing half an hour’s material would have taken out the slower elements of the production and tightened it immeasurably.