Barrel of laughs at the local...

STARS of the show . . . Claire Sweeney and Matthew Rixon

Oldham Coliseum Theatre
IF an Englishman’s home is his castle, then the pub is his amphitheatre.

The place where he can watch and play sports, put the world to rights over a drink and above all enjoy some company and banter.

Pub humour has been excellently brought to life by comedian Al Murray’s “The Pub Landlord” and TV’s “Early Doors” but preceding them in the theatre is Bolton author Jim Cartwright’s “Two”.

It’s the 20th anniversary of the play, but luckily many pubs in Oldham haven’t altered in that time.

The Coliseum is transformed into a quintessential Northern pub with an authentic looking bar. And an 1980s soundtrack helps recreate the era and bring back memories.

I’m not sure about the giant bottles in the background, which more resemble Willy Wonka’s factory than having symbolic effect.

And it is the first pub without glasses and with make believe pumps and an invisible till, which adds to the artificiality. But this is redeemed by clever use of sound effects.

The fun is in watching two talented actors bring a myriad of familiar characters of all ages and accents to life — 14 in all ranging right from a child to an old man.

Never before have so many coats and cardigans been used to such dramatic effect as they smoothly switch between roles.

Claire Sweeney is the big draw, famous for playing Lindsey Corkhill in “Brookside” and West End roles in “Chicago” and opposite the late, great Patrick Swayze in “Guys and Dolls”. She also presents a TV makeover show and stars on “Loose Women”, though I wouldn’t know much about that.

Equally impressive at inhabiting contrasting characters is Matthew Rixon, who has a long list of theatre credits.

Among the wordy vignettes, standouts include the slapstick humour of Scouse would-be lothario Moth and long-suffering but determined girlfriend Maudie.

But it is also bleak and touching in places. The scene between insecure, wife-abusing Roy and his timid, bullied partner Lesley is genuinely unsettling and a great piece of writing and acting.

Linking them all together are the frugal landlord and brassy landlady with the friction between them the narrative intrigue that builds to an emotional finale.

Catch it before last orders on October 24.

RH