Years to the Day

Years to the Day
By Allen Barton. Adelaide Fringe. South Australian Playwrights Theatre. Noel Lothian Hall - Adelaide Botanic Gardens. February 20 - March 4, 2018

It is exactly four Years to the Day since Jeff and Dan last met face to face. They have a history that stretches back twenty-five years to their first day at College and in the last four years a lot of things have changed.

Years to the Day is a fast-paced and tightly written two-hander that negotiates the relationship between the two men. There is news, there is sadness, there are moments of joy and there are arguments. They have had life-changing experiences that both shock and challenge the other. At the age of 43 they are as Dan says exactly middle aged if their life expectancy is 86. Nothing is off limits in their conversation, sex, politics, families, relationships and political correctness.

Barton cleverly shifts the audience’s allegiances backwards and forwards between the pair. Jeff understands, Don’s being obtuse, then the roles are reversed. The play is punctuated with laughter, the writing and delivery of the jokes falls under the headings of funny, witty and the “oh no I can’t believe you just said that!” kind.

The actors James McClusky-Garcia and Jimmy Lyons are highly skilled and deliver their performances with utter believability keeping the audience totally engaged.  Jimmy Lyons as director does credit to Allen Barton’s play. The sound, lighting and set are a simple no frills affair and nothing else is needed. The attention is focused where it should be on two men and their conversation.

Try and find an hour to see this show.

Sally Putnam

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