The theme of relationships does connect with the audience very well as everyone at some point experience a relationship with someone whether it is good or bad one. Throughout the whole play relationship is used constantly even with the Old Man and Old Woman. The characters experiences really do happen in everyday life.
When the Landlord and Landlady first appear in the first section of the play the audience is immediately aware of the theme of the play because of the way the Landlord and Landlady interact with each other, and when another person enters after them and continuous with this theme of the play the audience can now relate themselves with their experiences of relationships used and look at within this play.
The Landlord and Landlady re-enter the play like structured intervals and this is how the play is structured, because after other characters have finished a monologue or duologue, for example after Roy and Lesley there is a small section after them between the Landlord and Landlady. This is structured like this because these two are the only characters whose story will be revealed slowly throughout the play, not like all the other characters where we only see a small section of their relationship and life. Each time the Landlord and Landlady enter the audience find a tiny bit more of their individual story that we won’t find out fully until the end. It is mainly nearly after every other character in the play that after them the Landlord and Landlady appear for a very short section then it continues with another character and this continuous like this throughout the whole play until it is finished.
The play Two is set in a pub over the course of one night and because most couples in a relationship seem to go to their local pub at the time when this play was set and first written, it fits in very well with the play. The fact that all the characters tell their own story over one whole night is symbolic in the way that the playwright is saying that a lot can happen over the course of one night. Apart from the bar the only other props within the play are a couple of tables and chairs and the rest are imitated by the characters and this is to show how people act inside a pub.
The audience are kept involved throughout the play especially the small sections involving the Landlord and Landlady as these are the key moments that reveal more of their story, and slowly we find out why the like the way they are towards each other. Also we see all different sides of a relationship, from the Old Man who is happy and knowing that even though his wife has passes away he will one day be with her again, to the relationship between Roy and Lesley where Lesley is in constant fear of Roy of what he may do to her.
The final section of the play between the Landlord and Landlady reveals their whole story and draws everything to a close. The audience finally find out the story about their relationship and why they are like the way they are and the audience get to understand this, without them having to guess in the idle of the play when clues are suggested to keep the audience thinking of what the Landlord and Landlady’s secret past life are. For example when the boy enters and talks to the Landlady this is a major clue. The audience are now relived when the story is finally concluded and everything is revealed at the end of the play. It is because of one line the audience know why they are like this. “Because seven years ago tonight out son died…” This is structured so it shocks the audience as it is much unexpected. As the audience doesn’t find this out throughout the play they are trying to guess and figure out what secrets they are both hiding. This builds up tension and suspense keeping the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the play.
When there is a monologue taking place it is delivered directly to the audience so that the audience feel as though the character speaking to talking directly to them. For example the monologue that the Old Woman says is spoken directly to the audience, ‘She sips her drink. Then turns directly to the audience. Here I am at the end of my day. Taking my reward from the glass. He’s at home, he can’t come out, too crippled dear…’
As this is happening the other character off stage is getting ready for the duologue between the characters doing the monologue who will quickly change into another characters when they are finished, and this is how the play is very well balanced between the dialogue of the characters and the changing of characters, and this is why the play is very successful as it is very well balanced.
Small sections of play are sometimes dramatic to keep the audience interested and this builds up suspense for the ending and helps create tension so that it builds up the finale of the play.
Landlady: Get off.
Landlord: No.
Landlady: Get off or I’ll scream like I’ve been stabbed.
Landlord: Do it then….He doesn’t even look at her. He just leaves.
This is one of the many small sections between the Landlord and Landlady that increase the tension between them both for the finale of the play.
Landlady: Because seven years ago tonight our son died…
The play is a success overall and the way the sections are structured and how the characters are used make this happen. The fact that these relationships happen all the time and because the play is set in a pub makes it really easy for the audience to relate to. The play looks at all different ranges of emotions and what type of good and bad relationships there are, from Roy and Lesley that clearly show that they have a bad relationship to Fred and Alice that show they have one of the best relationships throughout the whole play. I don’t think this play would have been as successful if it was structured into acts and scenes, and because it has used a continuous series instead it keeps the audience watching and interested as it wouldn’t as much if the play was structured into acts and scenes.
