Theatre Review: Two’s A Crowd Shows Getting Older Is Getting Bolder
In life, you never stop finding your way, especially because Life seems to be something you go through moreso than “land upon.” Yet, from movies to books, there is a feeling like Life ends after 35 or so. We have a “youth addiction,” which is ironic considering society does not glorify or even allow youth to enlighten and decide the world’s future. Thus, Two’s A Crowd reveals a sad truth; the more wrinkles you get, the more others, including yourself, think you have less problems or interests. Yet, for Rita Rudner’s Wendy Solomon and Robert Yacko’s Tom McManus, that is anything but true.
Rudner’s Wendy is a “sixty-something” woman whose husband cheated on her and disrupted what felt like a good marriage for nearly 3 decades. She leaves him because she thinks that is what she is supposed to do, and uses Las Vegas as a way to revive some liveliness into her life. Meanwhile,Yacko’s Tom is there for a poker tournament after the loss of his wife. Each is trying rebuild a life that, for many, should feel beyond settled. Yet, if there are two questions they ask themselves throughout every song it is “What Now?” and “Why?” They simply are in awe that they have to start life over in an era of their life that is treated as if everything is done by now.
Rudner gives Wendy such a snarky “joie-de-vivre” while Yacko makes Tom sweet and sad. While so many of us believe fear is tied to the idea of losing something, for them, their fear was born after the loss. They thought they were beyond major, life-changes, which is why their sarcasm and judgement of each other is hilarious. They cut each other, from appearance to choices, with verbal knives; only to find that, in their fear, they are the same. These are two people trying to figure out how and if they are still lovable, and they do so through each other.
In songs and humor, Two’s A Crowd reminded me of a sitcom. With book by Rita Rudner, music by Jason Feddy, and direction by Martin Bergman, the show used music as an interlude of breathe during and after scenes: singing to the morality of a moment. In terms of musical style, it went for a classic style; making every song, even raunchy ones like, “S**t Happens,” feel harmless. While With Kelly Holden Bashar and Brian Lohmann playing multiple, hilarious characters, and Jason Feddy playing a troubadour for the storyline, Two’s A Crowd feel full, while never straying from its simple story. It is a feel-good musical about how hard it is to feel better when you are older and still trying to figure life out. Two’s A Crowd plays until August 25 at 59E59. It is 2 hours with a 10 minute intermission. Buy Tickets Here.
