Under The Influence is the brainchild of TikTok sensations the Gilbert Twins, famous for their sketches which centres around couples counselling as Frances decides that she and her twin Carine need professional help to make their work and home life more harmonious.
The show is structured around the first two therapy sessions with the therapist Kate, played by Shona Maule, gradually getting to know the twins and what brings them to counselling. This naturally gives Carine and Frances opportunities to discuss their childhood, including how Frances helped Carine with her crippling shyness when she was a child, whilst also exploring how their relationship has developed as adults. This structure works particularly well for the venue, avoiding the need for set changes and ensuring there is little opportunity for the pace to drop.
The show is clearly rooted in the twin’s own experiences but ironically this is where it sometimes feels less personal than I would have expected. Rather than feeling as though Frances and Carine are allowing the audience into their real relationship, there are moments where they appear to be playing versions of themselves. There are certainly laughs along the way but the comedy is more consistently amusing than genuinely hilarious and I found myself wanting the material to lean further into the quirks and awkwardness of their actual relationship.
There are also glimpses of something more affecting beneath the comedy. Hearing about Frances helping Carine through her childhood shyness gives their relationship some emotional weight and there is clearly genuine affection between the two. However these moments were never quite developed enough to become truly moving. The show touches on their vulnerability without quite allowing the audience to sit with it.
Both Frances and Carine trained in musical theatre, so naturally there is a musical element to the show, with Maule also doubling as their accompanist. The songs provide another way of exploring their relationship, from the comic retelling of their first meeting in the womb, with Carine lamenting that Frances has always been there through to Frances’ more tender number, ‘My Mirror and My Shadow.’ The musical interludes are enjoyable and are worked into the therapy session format well.
The biggest appeal of Under The Influence is simply watching two people with such a distinctive shared history interact on stage. There is an inherent fascination in watching twins who have spent their entire lives together navigate their relationship as adults and the show has some lovely glimpses of this.
Under the Influence is an enjoyable hour with some good laughs and glimpses of a genuinely touching relationship at its heart. The Gilbert Twins are clearly talented performers and here is plenty of potential in putting their real-life dynamic centre stage, but I wanted the show to feel a little more personal. There are moments that are funny and others that are touching but ultimately neither quite landed strongly enough to make the show particularly memorable.
Under The Influence is on at the Underbelly Bristo Square at 21:2- 22:20. You can find out more and book tickets here.
If you like this review you might also like my review of Bog Witch, Texas Annie: The Legend of The Moan Ranger and Girlhood In The Bathroom.