Duets by Peter Quilter

Barry Creyton and Noelene Brown have returned to the Ensemble Theatre to perform another double act, again directed by Ensemble Artistic Director, Sandra Bates. This time, however, the play has not been penned by Creyton, (Creyton’s Double Act goes back to 1987), but by renowned British playwright Peter Quilter (Glorious, End Of The Rainbow). The play is aptly called Duets and features a set of four encounters.

In Quilter’s play Creyton and Brown play four very different and feisty mature age ‘couples’ in situations that could go any which way. Jonathon and Wendy are two singles on a blind date, feeling their way very gingerly. Janet reveals her feelings for her boss, Gary, whilst waiting for party guests to arrive. Shelly and Bobby go on holiday and arrive in their hotel room in Spain. Rather odd, considering that they only recently been granted a divorce! Angela is having last minute tremors as she is about to take wedding vows for the third time, and is having a heart to heart with her brother, Toby.

Quilter’s writing, with more than a nod to Neil Simon, mixes together humour with pathos. Duets is an entertaining, and gentle night in the theatre. Creyton and Brown prove some 47 years after they first teamed up together at the old Phillip Street Theatre in What’s New?, that they are still a marvelous double act. They effortlessly change personas, assisted by different wigs, over the four scenes. Their continuing partnership with director Sandra Bates is again rewarding. Anna Ilic’s set works effectively with a large roof hanging over a changing living room, and to the left, hangs a picture frame with a different generic photo enclosed for each new location.

David Kary

Photo: Barry Creyton and Noeline Brown as Toby and Angela in The Wedding, part of Duets. Photo by Steve Lunam.