Stage Review Two Trains Running at Derby Theatre

Pictured left to right : Sterling (Michael Salami) - Hambone (Derek Ezenagu) and Holloway (Leon Herbert)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

It is Pittsburgh, 1969. Memphis owns a run-down diner in an area undergoing regeneration and redevelopment. Many African Americans are falling foul, caught up in unsatisfactory town planning implementations that are leaving people in the neighbourhood short changed. Groups are protesting; there is huge social unrest.

It is a gloomy outlook for Memphis and for waitress/cook, Risa, because the business is approaching the twilight zone.

Wherever and whenever changes are afoot with injustices attached, there are people who come together in philosophising and debating the whys-and-wherefores from first-hand experiences or from agenda driven viewpoints; and this pretty much sums up what is happening here.

Other stage plays have presented lamenting characters meeting up to reveal backstory information through: lengthy debate, up on a soap-box presentation, and other communicative ways, where the scriptwriting, arguably, sets them up better in being able to hold the interest, or fascination, of the audience than this manages.

However, the reviewer acknowledges all the reasons why this receives critical acclaim. A history lesson and human story is interwoven in every line and is in no way contradictory. The speech work and the physical intonations from all members of a great cast of seven is impressive.

The scene design, build and scenic art is fabulous to see, encompassing every worn-up detail from the patched-up brickwork above, to the dirty skirting boards below.

This production achieves and reveals everything as pure intended, hence the four stars awarded. 

There is no dodging from the fact however, that this play is far too long to sit through without eye lids drooping (2 hours 55 mins incl. interval). Dialogue is full-on and races along to such a degree the energy and meaning in the phrasing gets lost at times. We understand, and/or have empathy with individual characters, we get it thus far, we get the irony at the play’s end too. Therefore, go see it for its historical references and relevance, though bear in mind the points made here because the experience can be as much painful as it is pleasurable.

Cast:

Memphis - Andrew French (credits include: ETT, RSC, NT. BBC Films and BBC TV)

Risa - Anita-Joy Uwajeh (credits incl: Shakespeare's Globe. Fox. Channel 4)

Wolf - Ray Emmet Brown (credits incl: Leed's Playhouse. Netflix and ITV)

Holloway - Leon Herbert (credits incl: Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. Warner Bros.pictures, BBC TV

West - Geoff Aymer (credits incl: (Leicester Curve, Soho Theatre. BBC TV. Writing & Sketch Shows

Sterling - Michael Salami (credits incl: Soho Theatre. Warner Bros. Channel 4.

Hambone - Derek Ezenagu (credits incl: Birmingham Rep. BBC TV. Channel 4 and Radio

**ENDS**

Review by theatre critic, Debra Hall who attended press night of Two Trains Running at Derby Theatre on Tuesday 22 Oct 7.30 pm