Thursday, June 19, 2014

Rough Magic and Opera Theatre Company, 'The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny': Show Me the Money

An opera satirising opera goes to pained lengths in Lynne Parker's conflicted production. Photo: Ros Kavanagh

Olympia Theatre
Jun 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23


My review of The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny by Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill coming up after the jump ...


Thursday, June 12, 2014

Bottom Dog, 'The Bachelor of Kilkish': Living on the Fringe

Myles Breen's play confronts the lack of acknowledgement of homosexuality in small town Ireland.

Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick
Jun 11-13


My review of The Bachelor of Kilkish by Myles Breen coming up just as soon as I start on candy floss and work my way up to the waltzers ...

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Make Theatre a Part of Your Holidays this Summer

Ballyturk is looking quite the vacation spot this Summer. 


Whether you're hiking the McGillycuddys, sailing off the Causeway or sinking golfballs in Pirate's Cove, a trip to the theatre this summer is only a short drive away ...


Saturday, May 31, 2014

Pan Pan and Irish Modern Dance Company, 'Quad': Crunching the Numbers

According to Beckett, Quad can't work onstage. Regardless, Pan Pan and Irish Modern Dance Company do the math on this mysterious square dance. 


Project Arts Centre, Dublin Dance Festival 
May 30-31


My review of Quad by Samuel Beckett coming up after the jump ...

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Richard Ryan Promotions & Hint of Lime Productions, 'Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London'

Living her last days during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the only world Eleanor Roosevelt has known was one on the brink. She'll never know that she played own part in tipping the scales. 

The New Theatre
May 19-31


My review of Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London by Alison Skilbeck coming up just as soon as my mouth and my teeth have no future ...

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Emma Martin Dance, 'Tundra': Left Out In the Cold

Like the Arctic tundra, Emma Martin's dance is mostly shrouded in darkness. Will it shed enough light to lead us anywhere? 


Samuel Beckett Theatre, Dublin Dance Festival
May 20-23


My review of Tundra by Emma Martin coming up after the jump ...


Sunday, May 18, 2014

Veronica Dyas, 'Here & Now': A House is Not a Home

136,564 Irish citizens have residential mortgages in arrears. Does Veronica Dyas' pilgrimage tell us anything new about what makes a home?

Project Arts Centre
Performance: May 15-17
Installation: May 13-17


My review of Here & Now by Veronica Dyas coming up after the jump ...


Saturday, May 17, 2014

Turnaround Productions, 'On City Water Hill'

An IFTA-winning producer thinks big as he seeks help from a hitman for his next feature.

Theatre Upstairs
May 6-17


I don't have time to do a full review of On City Water Hill by Philip St John.

Set on a hillside overlooking Dublin, the play presents an exchange between an IFTA-winning producer and a professional hitman. The producer (in a furious turn from Neil Fleming) claims to be researching for a big screen feature.

What unravels is a revenge thriller with one major problem - if there is a clear hero in Pat Nolan's hitman we never worry or root for him. While it sees male violence being industrialised, the play doesn't deliver any powerful insight into such a reality. It feels more like a polemic, as the producer - a walking epitome of Celtic Tiger ideals - ends up with a gun to his head. 

The playwright hasn't gripped the emotional arcs of the work (Fleming is blasting his material to pieces trying to make it transform). Weaknesses in the writing aside, the performances are quite solid. Liam Halligan's direction moves things along smoothly and Laura Kelly's brave set design doesn't seek naturalistic conviction, as symmetrical blue panels tacked to the theatre wall suggest a sky. It makes you wonder if On City Water Hill would be better off with a more stylised form.


What did everybody else think?

Friday, May 16, 2014

Project Arts Centre, 'Boys and Girls': Here Comes the Night Time

From Dublin's spoken word scene, Dylan Coburn Gray's verse drama sets four college students loose for a night. 

May 13-17
Project Arts Centre


My review of Boys and Girls by Dylan Coburn Gray coming up just as soon it's unreal how painfully sexy your cigarette is ...