Theatre News

Ray Cooney directs revival of his farce Two Into One at Menier Chocolate Factory

The production will follow ”Candide” and open in March

Farce master: Ray Cooney
Farce master: Ray Cooney in 2012
© Dan Wooller

Veteran comedy writer Ray Cooney will direct a revival of his farce Two Into One at the Menier Chocolate Factory later this year.

The production will run from 19 March to 26 April 2014 (previews from 8 March), following the run of Candide.

The 1984 play "depicts politicians as hypocritical sex fiends far more concerned with satisfying their hormonal urges than serving their constituents", according to press material.

It centres on philandering MP Richard Willey, struggling to conform to prudish Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's puritanical approach.

On the eve before voting on a bill that would outlaw pornography, everyone in Parliament is on their best behaviour- except Willey. While his colleagues prepare to debate, Willey is attempting to bed the Leader of the Opposition’s secretary in a London hotel. But, in classic Cooney style, all does not go to plan.

Cooney, now 81, has penned West End farces including Move Over Mrs Markham, Run for Your Wife, Out of Order (Olivier Award for Best Comedy), It Runs In the Family, Funny Money, Caught in the Net and many more.

Two Into One will be designed by Paul Farnsworth (whose other Chocolate Factory designs include Candide, Charley’s Aunt, The Invisible Man and Smash), with lighting by Paul Anderson and sound by Gregory Clarke.

Casting is still to be announced.