The Boy with Two Hearts - Dorfman

[alessia]

Oh dear, I really didn't enjoy this one. I bought my ticket as the new NT season went on sale- big mistake not waiting for more information to become available...
it felt like the script and the way it was performed, including the staging, are aimed at children so everything has to be made obvious, each thing that happens you see coming five minutes in advance, and there is constant exposition and explanation (except the point which was never explained, of why the family - supposedly not knowing any English, was so intent on wanting to go to the UK or America...America, with that renown free healthcare system...). By the interval I was so irritated and bored that I contemplated leaving but decided to stick it out to the end, thinking maybe it'll get better...no. 
I expected to be deeply moved but it was so weak all round that I was just sitting there feeling nothing. The added singing/musical element also did nothing for me, despite the singer being very good.
Lots of applause at the end so maybe I'm the minority opinion.

Now looking forward to Ruckus and the P Word to remind me why I love theatre lol. 

[mkb]

In my early years, I excelled at maths and science, not arts. If I were to revisit my English essays, they would be full of "this happened, then this happened, then this happened". All very logical and accurate, but no emotion; cringe-makingly bad in fact.

This thought came to mind watching The Boy with Two Hearts last night. A lot happens -- one thing after another -- but nothing to make me care much. I spent most of Act 1 trying to work out why five lines of dirty washing were suspended above this story of Afghan refugees fleeing persecution. The actors, some in multiple roles, struggle with a script that has no room for character development or engagement.

On a tour of provincial studio theatres targeting 11-15 year old school groups, this would be a sure-fire hit. For adults, there's not much to take away.

It's difficult to understand how the NT accepted this script, let alone marketed it to their core demographic. Clearly word-of-mouth is playing a part, as the compact Dorfman was only two-thirds full.

Two stars.

Act 1: 19:32-20:24
Act 2: 20:42-21:38

[Mark]

I did quite enjoy this today, and enjoyed how the actors would jump into the other roles too. The story was fairly predictable but like alessia I question why such a need for it to be the UK? Obviously that is where this family ended their journey, but this family had safe refuge in multiple countries, most namely Austria.

[nicolaa]

Too much telling and not enough actual showing. This script would have worked better on Radio 4.

I also didn't know why it needed the singer.

Still nice for Denis Irwin to get a mention on the London stage in 2022, doubt he's been mentioned much on stage before (if at all!).

Dorfman was about 95% full.

[blobble84]

I thought this was dreadful. The story should have potential for an interesting production, but the script is poor and badly acted, with the direction adding nothing to it. I left at the interval.