We Don't Need to Talk About Donald

Nick Hennegan enjoys A Special Relationship at The Tabard

Bryan Dykstra with Tim Marriot rehearsing A Special Relationship
Bryan Dykstra with Tim Marriot rehearsing A Special Relationship

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March 1, 2025

Serendipity? Could there arguably be a better time to talk about the relationship - the historically ‘special’ relationship? - between Britain and the USA? Possibly not. But with the genius that actor and co-writer Tim Marriott brings to this production, as he always does with his small-scale shows, this two hander by Tim and Jeff Stolzer shows the differences between “two great nations, divided by a common tongue!” (Who DID say that? Oscar Wilde? Winston Churchill?)

It’s quite a simple story, with Becket-esque references, although in this case, the pagoda… (or is it a tent?)… does get constructed! And it starts with music from Vaughan Williams, setting the pace for the piece.

It is the morning of the wedding of their children and British dad Monty (Tim Marriott) is hosting American dad Pete (played with warmth, verve and gusto by Brian Dykstra) and his family. Everyone else has gone to the church for the wedding rehearsal but the two dads have been left behind to put up a gazebo in the garden. Communication proves challenging and not just because the instructions are in Chinese.

It could be a one-joke play, but it's much cleverer than that. It is funny, but ultimately as we find out more about the two men, their lifestyles and secrets, it becomes very much a buddy story. Director Margarett Perry keeps the action moving but knows when to pull back and there were moments towards the end of this one-hour, one act offering when the odd sniffle could be heard from the audience. It is genuinely very moving and there was even a breaking of the fourth wall (which may have been an ad-lib!) towards the end that had the audience spontaneously applauding.

As always the Tabard technical side from Sandra Szaron, Rob Miles and Alice Joy was spot on . Tim Marriott was a regular on BBC programmes in the 90’s, especially playing Gavin in every episode of The Brittas Empire. With his other hit shows, Watson and Appraisal, Tim is becoming a now becoming a regular at the Tabard. And we’re all the better for it too. This production is also supporting Parkinson’s UK, a clue to some of the drama in the show. And after this, the production is heading to New York, for Brits On Broadway.

So, yea-hah! Ride on down to the Tabard Theatre, pardner, for a special, Special Relationship! Pip pip!

Nick Hennegan

Book tickets for A Special Relationship which runs from 26 February to 22 March.

 

Coming Up at The Tabard

Theatre at the Tabard is at 2 Bath Road, Chiswick (W4 1LW).

 

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