THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
Frank and Percy is an engaging and charming com-dram starring Sir Ian McKellen and Roger Allam who serendipitously meet whilst dog walking. Perhaps a passé way to meet, but more charming than, say, Tinder, and playwright Ben Weatherill begs us to recognize what the universe might be dangling in front of you if you are open to possibilities. To quote the Grateful Dead's song, 'Scarlet Begonias', "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right."
Frank and Percy find each other widowed and divorced and in the later stages of life, all seemingly conventional until Percy mentions that his ex was a man. The relationship ripens beyond friendship.
Sean Mathias, McKellen's long-standing professional and personal collaborator, directs. He minimally presents two actors, a substratum set, and an acoustically pleasing theater (important for the handsome, mature audience). The clever banter leads, and the tenured pair had no dialogue misfires, but wardrobe changes were performed in sight, breaking character, which would have been better off scene. Frank and Percy looks at the intricacies and mechanics of being new to a gay relationship, without imploring a mission statement, but adhering to the heart of the story; love, longing and friendship.
Youth overwhelmingly takes center stage in theater, and it's refreshing to see a story about people at the other end of life. The success of the Netflix show Grace and Frankie, starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin – both in their 80s – humorously looks at aging to huge success and wide appeal.
I was hopeful for a canine appearance – which never materialized – however it was awesome to see the venerable Sir Ian McKellen, and the reverence given by the audience was a noteworthy side show. It is easy to review a play with mechanical dissection, but it is equally important to watch and consider how the art is impacting the audience and it was clear from the beginning that Frank and Percy enraptured its viewers.
