The Gap – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

Writer: Jim Cartwright

Director: Anthony Banks

Hope Mill Theatre’s latest offering, ‘The Gap’, is a delightfully funny exploration of love, loss, life and everything in between. Written by Jim Cartwright, the play introduces us to Walter (Matthew Kelly) and Carol, sorry I mean Corral, (Denise Welch), two working-class kids who decide to leave the shipyards and factories of the North behind to seek a new life amidst the bright lights of 1960s Soho.

However, they soon discover the high life is not all it’s cracked up to be. Responsibilities and the realities of rising rent eventually force them apart. 40 years and a chance phone call later they must navigate the complexities of rekindling a connection forged in the throes of a passionate youth.

Director Anthony Banks masterfully portrays the enduring bond between two individuals separated by time and circumstance using minimal set.

Simple images projected onto frames of see-through gauze material, capture the story’s various settings in an abstract way which also serves to represent the often-hazy nature of memory. The predominantly Black and grey colour scheme is indicative both of the story taking place mainly at night and of the city landscapes; shiny black captures the sleek sexiness of Soho while more muted greys capture the smog of the factory town our heroes are drawn to return to.

The two foremost frames of gauze at the front of the stage, arranged like sliding doors, become almost portals to the past, opening to reveal different snapshots of the story as the action cuts between past and present.

This unique staging allows the play to strike a delicate balance between intimacy and spectacle. There are seamless transitions between moments of tenderness and of side-splitting laughter. Whether set against the backdrop of a bustling London Street or the quiet intimacy of Walter and Corral’s crumbling flat, each scene is imbued with a quiet realism.

Kelly and Welch have impeccable comic timing and truly embody their characters. Kelly exudes both an innocent warmth and hilarious sarcastic wit as Walter and is perfectly complemented by Welch’s Corral, who combines charisma and an unwavering spirit with an underlying vulnerability.

Both actors play multiple parts, sometimes by simply switching accent, but often via means of fast and frankly hilarious costume changes! The colourful garments also serve to indicate the time-period in any given scene, since Walter and Coral’s story spans more than fifty years. While Walch and Kelly are surprisingly adept at portraying their characters at every stage in life, projections of pictures of the actors themselves when they were younger also give a sense of our hero’s appearances at the time.

The soundscape, including frequent snippets of popular music of the era, further enhances the production’s immersive quality, transporting the audience seamlessly between the present and past and creating a realistic backdrop against which the narrative unfolds.

The dialogue, often written in rhyme, processes a similarly dream-like quality, drifting in and out of iambic pentameter and drawing viewers into the heart of Walter and Corral’s world. However, the rapid-fire style of line delivery can also make it a little difficult to follow on occasion, requiring the audience’s full concentration, particularly when we are only filled in on an event verbally. This may however be a conscious choice, ensuring the audience feel as swept up and out of their depth as Walter and Corral.

By breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to us, Corral and Walter in a sense make the audience a third character. We become the unseen reporter interviewing the pair as we respond to their reminiscing, drawing our own conclusions.

At its heart, ‘The Gap’ is a story about the enduring power of human connection. With moving performances, unique design elements, and thoughtful direction, this charming production is a true love letter to the rollercoaster that is life. Walter and Corral’s story is a tale for the ages, of love, laughter, and the timeless quest for companionship.

Runs until 16 March 2024