The playwright, who is now 81, will direct the production himself. He began his theatrical career as a boy actor in Song of Norway at the Palace Theatre in 1946. Following a period in repertory theatres around the U.K., he joined the Brian Rix Company at the Whitehall Theatre, and it was during this period he began his writing career, which has included the West End hits Move Over Mrs. Markham, Run for Your Wife, Out of Order (Olivier Award for Best Comedy), It Runs In the Family, Funny Money and Caught in the Net, amongst others. In 1983 he formed the Theatre of Comedy at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where Two Into One premiered a year later, and became its first artistic director.
Two Into One revolves around one of Cooney's favorite topics – infidelity - this time amongst England's political elite. According to press materials, Cooney depicts politicians as hypocritical sex fiends far more concerned with satisfying their hormonal urges than serving their constituents.
The cheater here is MP Richard Willey. It's not a particularly good time to be a philandering Brit politician. Rupert Murdoch isn't yet hacking phones and digging up dirt on members of the British government, but under famously prudish Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher her government has adopted a puritanical platform. On the eve before voting on a bill that would outlaw pornography, everyone in Parliament is on their best behaviour—everyone except Willey. While his colleagues prepare to debate, Willey is attempting to bed the Leader of the Opposition's secretary in a London hotel. All ministerial aide George Pidgen has to do is book a hotel room for Willey to meet his mistress. But the bumbling assistant makes a series of disastrous mistakes, and extreme complications ensue in two adjoining suites.
The production will be designed by Paul Farnsworth, with lighting by Paul Anderson and sound by Gregory Clarke. Casting is still be announced.
To book tickets, which are on sale from Jan. 30, contact the box office on 020 7378 1713 or visit www.menierchocolatefactory.com for more details.
