The Menier Chocolate Factory To Revive Ray Cooney's Two Into One Later This Year

Posted on 22 January 2014

The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced that veteran comedy writer Ray Cooney will direct a revival of his farce Two Into One later this year.

The production will begin previews on Saturday 8th March 2014 ahead of an official opening night on Wednesday 19th March. Two Into One, which is described as a “spectacular delight from one of the great farcuers of the 20th century,” will run until Saturday 26th April 2014.

The 1984 play depicts politicians as hypocritical sex fiends far more concerned with satisfying their hormonal urges than serving their constituents. It centres on philandering MP Richard Willey, struggling to conform to prudish Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's puritanical approach.

On the eve before voting on a bill that would outlaw pornography, everyone in Parliament is on their best behaviour- except Willey. While his colleagues prepare to debate, Willey is attempting to bed the Leader of the Opposition's secretary in a London hotel. But, in classic Cooney style, all does not go to plan.

Two Into One follows a successful run of Candide which recently extended due to popular demand. The Menier is widely recognised as London’s leading off-West End theatre.

Cooney, now 81, has penned West End farces including Move Over Mrs Markham, Run for Your Wife, Out of Order (Olivier Award for Best Comedy), It Runs In the Family, Funny Money, Caught in the Net and many more.

Two Into One will be designed by Paul Farnsworth (Candide, Charley’s Aunt, The Invisible Man and Smash), with lighting by Paul (Candide, Proof, Torch Song Trilogy, Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine) and sound by Gregory Clarke (The Color Purple, Travels with my Aunt and Proof).

Casting to be announced.

 

Andrew Tomlins