ScotsGay Magazine

*****

You'll get the maximum benefit from this quite brilliant play by going in cold. Seriously. You should turn of this computer, take the most direct route to the Assembly Rooms and simply enter Murray Nossel and Paul Browde's space having no idea what's going to happen next. Let the whole thing unfold in front of you. Still reading? Well, I'm gonna try not to spoil it.

Murray and Paul went to school together in South Africa. When they were 12, they were challenged by a teacher to tell each other a story. Unsure at first, they soon got the knack and their tales of school days gradually unfold before us. By chance, years later, they meet as adults in New York, where they resume the storytelling. Their tales are full of humour and drama. Tragedy and success. Wonderful moments of love, liberation and forgiveness.

What we soon realise though, is that it is all real. Two Men Talking is not a work of fiction, but the real experiences of two very close friends who have great stories to tell. What we are seeing is improvised theatre, based on the men's own stories. It works because it's honest. The whole audience really does hang on their every word. I've never felt so alive during a stage performance.

Utterly beautiful.

Martin Walker

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