Duet for One

P took me to see this last Saturday. It is one of the best plays I have ever seen.

Also it stars Juliet Stephenson who is such a wonderful actress. She plays Stephanie Abrahams, a world famous concert violinist who can no longer play after being struck down with Multiple Sclerosis. Her husband, a famous and successful classical composer made an appointment for her to see to see a psychiatrist, Dr Feldman (played by Henry Goodman), to help her work through her emotions and think about a future of being unable to play the music she lives for. The play follows six therapy sessions which they have together in Dr Feldman's consulting rooms, taking us on Stephanie's journey of denial, anger, breakdown and the first step on the long road to rebuilding her shattered life.

First of all I adored the set. It was all dark and moody with sumptuous rugs and a chaise longue, the shelves filled with CDs and objects d'art. The lighting was fantastic too with the different times of day conveyed at the flick of a switch, light flooding through the venetian blinds.

Secondly the script is absolutely amazing. Tom Kempinski has written a powerful and utterly convincing play. The dialogue between the Stephanie and Dr Feldman is completely believable, Goodman's character sounding every inch the psychiatrist. There is some humour, which gives us some respite from the subject matter, but in the main this is a powerful, serious piece of writing.

I particularly point to the dialogue in the opening moments when Stephanie asks Dr Feldman, "Do you know what MS is?" He goes on to reply, "Yes, the nerve endings...." and gives a matter-of-fact description of the physical changes in the body and the results. This sets the scene perfectly for the audience to discard their preconceptions of MS and understand the facts.

In the second act there is one scene which I found particularly uncomfortable to watch as Stephanie had plummeted to the depths of despair. I can't think of a time where I have been at the theatre and could actually feel myself squirm and long for a scene to end: not because it was bad, but because it was too good and it ripped at your emotions.

Obviously, there is no cure for Stephanie's physical degeneration but we do see the beginning of the end of her mental collapse and her acceptance of the situation.This is such a wonderful play. An emotive issue is tackled with intelligent dialogue and the kind of humour you would only experience when faced with such a grim future.


Juliet Stephenson was at her shouty, emotive best. Henry Goodman, who I was not familiar with, was convincing as the professional, appropriately aloof and slightly eccentric Dr Feldman.

The set design was fantastic, as was the lighting and sound. And the final touch which I thought was perfect was that the programme was full with information about MS so you didn't just sit there, watch a play then go home again, you learn something.