Two-hander
A two-hander is a term for a play, film, or television programme with only two main characters.[1] The two characters in question often display differences in social standing or experiences, differences that are explored and possibly overcome as the story unfolds.[2][3] Instances of two-handers may include theatre, film, television episodes, television series, and radio.
Radio
[edit]- The Bickersons
- Ethel and Albert consisted mostly of two-handers.
- John Finnemore's Double Acts
- Vic and Sade[a]
Television series
[edit]- Dinner for One (1963)[b]
- Un gars, une fille (1997)
- Head Case (2007)
- Web Therapy (2008)
- In Treatment (2008)
- Roger & Val Have Just Got In (2010)
Television episodes
[edit]- Bottom: "Contest", "Culture", "Hole"
- Breaking Bad: "Fly"
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine: "The Box"
- Family Guy: "Brian & Stewie", "Send in Stewie, Please"
- Mad About You: "The Conversation"
- Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: "4,722 Hours"
- Neighbours: Episode 8052, Episode 8325
- Porridge: "A Night In"
- The Twilight Zone: "Two"
Theatre
[edit]- The Stronger (1889)
- Hughie (1942)
- The Fourposter (1951)
- Two for the Seesaw (1958)
- The Zoo Story (1959)
- The Dumb Waiter (1960)
- Happy Days (1961)
- The Blood Knot (1961)
- Dutchman (1966)
- I Do! I Do! (1966)
- Same Time, Next Year (1975)
- The Gin Game (1976)
- The Woods (1977)
- Talley's Folly (1980)
- Duet for One (1980, also filmed in 1986)
- Educating Rita (1980)
- Mass Appeal (1980)
- 'night, Mother (1982)
- The Woman in Black (1987)
- The Meeting (1987)
- Love Letters (1988)
- Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (1987)
- A Walk in the Woods (1988)
- The Secret of Sherlock Holmes (1988)
- Oleanna (1992)
- Lonely Planet (1993)
- John & Jen (1995)
- Stones in His Pockets (1996)
- The Blue Room (1998)
- Vincent River (2000)
- Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2001)
- The Last Five Years (2001)
- Topdog/Underdog (2001)
- A Number (2002)
- Adrenalin...Heart (2002)
- Tuesdays with Morrie (2002)
- The Sunset Limited (2006)
- The Story of My Life (2009)
- A Steady Rain (2007)
- The Mountaintop (2009)
- Red (2009)
- Venus in Fur (2010)
- Lungs (2011)
- In a Forest, Dark and Deep (2011)
- Tender Napalm (2011)
- Constellations (2012)
- Between the Sheets (2012)
- The Anarchist (2012)
- China Doll (2015)
Opera
[edit]- Love Counts (2005)
Film
[edit]- Heaven Knows, Mr Allison (1957)
- Dutchman (1966)
- Hell in the Pacific (1968)
- Sleuth (1972)
- Same Time, Next Year (1978)
- My Dinner with Andre (1981)
- Enemy Mine (1985)
- 'night, Mother (1985)
- The Caller (1987)
- Closet Land (1991)
- The Mozart Bird (1993)
- Oleanna (1994)
- Interview (2003)
- Before Sunset (2004)
- In Bed (2005)
- Conversations with Other Women (2005)
- Sleuth (2007)
- Interview (2007)
- Moon (2009)
- Venus in Fur (2013)
- The Sunset Limited (2011)
- 28 Hotel Rooms (2012)
- Some Velvet Morning (2013)
- Creep (2014)
- Blue Jay (2016)
- The Pass (2016)
- Love All You Have Left (2017)
- Destination Wedding (2018)
- The Lighthouse (2019)
- The Two Popes (2019)
- Friend of the World (2020)
- Malcolm & Marie (2021)
- Together (2021)
- Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
- 65 (2023)
- The Dive (2023)
- What Happens Later (2023)
- Daddio (2024)
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Slanguage Dictionary Results - Two-hander". Variety. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
- ^ Wolcott, James (6 September 2010). "Crouching Duck, Hidden Draper: Mad Men Season 4, Episode 7". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ Caption for still from William Gibson’s play "Two for the Seesaw." Photo credit Arthur Cantor; from "Looking Back at Arthur Penn" slide show; The New York Times, September 30, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
- ^ E.P. (30 December 2020). "People all over the world watch "Dinner for One" on New Year's Eve". Culture. The Economist. Retrieved 21 April 2025.