Frank and Percy by Ben Weatherill. The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E to 17 December 2023. 5*****: William Russell.

Roger Allam and Ian Mckellen play two elderly men who meet walking their dogs on Hampstead Heath and fall in love in this flimsy but utterly enchanting and very funny comedy. Allam is Frank, a retired history teacher still grieving for his late wife and devoted to his dog. McKellen is Percy, a gay academic who has ended a relationship of many years, whose climate change views which make him unacceptable to today’s students. He is out and makes no secret of it and equally devoted to his dog. In a series of tiny scenes their friendship gradually blossoms and when Percy makes his move Frank is intrigued and slowly things happen between them. He decides that maybe he is bi and Percy thinks that is just fine. The closeted Frank – he admits to having in the past felt attracted to another man - eventually ends up in one hilarious segment when he enters all done up to go to a Gay Pride march and if you ever wondered what Inspector Thursday would look like in shiny satin shorts now is your chance to find out. McKellen, in a tutu, has already made his case for gay rights by ripping off his shirt to show his T shirt. As a play it is more a series of sit com situations than well constructed drama but it does take a look at bereavement, the problems of ageing, the need for companionship and to face up to the fact that there no longer is lots of time ahead. Maybe the digression into Percy’s encounter with counter culture – he gets banned by students from appearing at their university - is a slight diversion but it allows for a killer joke when the letter of dismissal is read out and for Frank to calm his volatile friend. Also look how Frank deals with Percy’s proposal of marriage and how Percy responds. Weatherill has plenty to say in spite of the format of the play but what makes the evening fly, and fly it does, is watching two superb actors command the stage, play off one another, seize their solo moments and create two believable people. They aren’t doing eye catching turns or camping it up for laughs. You could sit next to either of them on a park bench on a bus. You probably know one or the other. McKellen gets the best lines, which he delivers with relish, but it is Allam who holds the eye. Director Sean Mathias has handled the problems the play’s format presents with consummate skill and there is a lovely set by Morgan Large.

Cast

Roger Allam – Frank.

Percy – Ian McKellen.

Creatives

Director – Sean Mathias.

Designer – Morgan Large.

Lighting Designer – Nick Richards.

Sound Design – Andy Graham.

Costume Supervisor – Lee Tassie.

Head of Wardrobe – Nadine Connell.