Twins Review

August 27, 2024

Twins Review

25th August 2024

Many of us find the idea of twins intriguing; two people that were once a single cell, now walking the earth separately, yet still deeply interconnected. It forces us to question the layers of the self and what forms an identity. It is these extensive layers of self and ‘twinness’ that Persever Productions were beginning to explore in their interpretation of Twins by Maureen Lawrence at Baron’s Court Theatre on Sunday night.

The company put on two extracts from Lawrence’s play, 30 minutes from Act 1 and 30 minutes from Act 2 as part of a research and development evening to show their initial ideas. Set in an attic, 50 year old twins, Mimi and Gigi, begin to pack their belongings ahead of their home being repossessed. This meant the set was crowded, filled with cardboard boxes and papers lying around, adding to the claustrophobic feel of the attic and the uncomfortably close quarters that the twins had found themselves in; almost existing in a world of their own.

“The team only had 10 days to put the performance together and it is clear to see that it’s brimming with potential”

The play was written with two 50 year old actors in mind, but the director, Charlie Barker, decided to cast it intergenerationally in keeping with Persever Production’s mission to highlight actors at all stages in their career. Barker also chose to swap the actors playing Gigi and Mimi midway through the performance and I felt that this was a nice touch. This approach not only reinforced the idea that the characters were the same age but also creatively explored the concept of twins – two people who began as one, sharing similar qualities and mannerisms, yet still distinct individuals.

The hour-long performance flew by, as actors, Jennifer Wiltsie and Joanna Clarke, did an impressive job of keeping up with the incredibly fast dialogue. It was like a game of tennis, watching the words bounce back and forth from one to the other, neither actor ever dropping the ball, maintaining a rhythmic yet fierce pace. It was fascinating to get an insight into the pair’s relationship to one another as they slowly revealed past events that led them to the situation they found themselves in. Gigi thoughtfully says that their life didn’t go wrong, they “did it wrong”.

My only reservation was the characterisation of Mimi, as I felt neither actor quite pitched it right. Gigi is practical, quite stern and snappy at times, caught in a loop of her own thoughts, whereas Mimi has a more playful energy. Though this contrast was clear from the dialogue, it needed to be expressed more physically on stage. A whimsical approach to Mimi’s movements could better convey her dreamlike state, offering a dynamic contrast to her sister. They did use red clown noses to add in some playful moments, which was really fun and added lightness to the quite relentless dialogue. I hope that they expand on this in a full production: using props to evoke the twins’ childish silliness from when they were growing up together.

Similarly, their dynamics on stage felt somewhat ‘socially distanced’, as my friend aptly put it. The actors remained a few metres apart for much of the performance, missing an opportunity to show their sibling bond. Given that Mimi stares at her sister throughout the performance, while Gigi gazes out into the audience, it would be interesting to enhance this intensity by bringing her physically closer to her sister, highlighting her lack of social cues.

Nonetheless, this excerpt was highly promising. The team only had 10 days to put the performance together and it is clear to see that it’s brimming with potential. It’s definitely a show to keep an eye on for the future.

Charli West