Double Double has been revived at Barn Theatre until the end of May 2026. Although the play was written forty years ago, the storyline is timeless. Greed and double dealings are still part of certain people’s lives.
Double Double predominantly focuses around Phillipa James (Faye Brookes), who has been watching a homeless man for a few weeks and invites him into her home. She thinks that once he is cleaned up, he will be a “double” look-a-like for her deceased husband Richard (Daniel Brocklebank). The idea is for the homeless man to pretend to be Richard so that she can secure the next lump sum of his inheritance on his fortieth birthday.
Although the double dealing fraud doesn’t appear to be hurting anyone on the surface, as with all crimes, it is never victimless. The homeless man Duncan McPhee, also played by Daniel Brocklebank, is bewildered and objects to the plan at first. However, whether it’s the lure of the money or Philippa, he quickly adjusts to his new surroundings.
The plot thickens as the milestone birthday creeps up upon the newly acquainted strangers. The dynamics between the characters switch throughout the play, leaving the audience to question what will happen next between them and if they can pull off the deception and become millionaires!
Ethen Cheek set designer creates a highly polished “posh” apartment which lacks any “soul” or warmth and is dominated by a stern portrait of her dead Mother in law observing every work and aftion taking place in the apartment. The large window at the back of the stage missed a trick, though, as I would have like to have seen a city skyline to appear.
However, the intimacy of Barn Theatre allows all the auditorium to have a good view of the stage and will not miss any of the twists and turns that take place during the play.
For more information about Double Double and future productions at Barn Theatre, please use the link below.
Four Stars.
Photo credit: Alex Tabrizi.
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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