Thursday, December 27, 2012
Irish Theatre in 2012: Sacred Duties
In keeping with tradition I decided to do another write-up on the year that was, theatre-wise.
Last year I wrote about how I felt about lists and how un-useful they can be, so I'll be keeping with the approach of a discussion. Feel free to contribute in the comments section below.
On the subject of 2012, you'll probably have noticed that this blog has been inactive for most of it. This has been a result of time commitments to PhD research, work, a foray into making theatre (which is perhaps better left undiscussed), and to writing about theatre elsewhere and being paid to do so.
However, I've been thinking a lot recently about returning to the self-publishing ways. Aside from the insane amount of other things I have to do, I've found myself capable of writing faster, and so I think a weekly blog post is certainly achievable.
So please stick around (any press managers out there please retain my contact information!), and I'd like to wish Happy Holidays to all who have been around these parts, even if they have been quieter than usual.
My thoughts on Irish Theatre in 2012 after the jump ...
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Sugarglass Theatre, 'Tender Napalm': Concerning the UFOs
Nov 27-Dec 8
My review of Sugarglass's production of Tender Napalm by Philip Ridley coming up just as soon as my marine D.N.A. kicks in ...
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Company, 'Politik': Bank Job
Samuel
Beckett Theatre, Dublin
Oct 3-6
My review of Politik
coming up just as soon as I dream of a black Christmas ...
Monday, October 1, 2012
The Corn Exchange, 'Dubliners': We Are Our Own
Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
Sep 27-30
My review of The Corn Exchange's production of Dubliners by James Joyce coming up just as soon as I deal with moral problems as a cleaver deals with meat ...
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Musings returns to cover Dublin Theatre Festival!
Just when I thought I was out ...
Cheers for returning to these parts - you're very kind (especially considering I unceremoniously bailed back in March).
For the past few months I have been occupied with working the day job, researching for my PhD thesis, and, most proudly, producing and directing theatre with my company Lithium.
Occupying the territories of both theatre director and theatre reviewer seemed perilous so I chose one over the other. However, I have found myself missing writing about Irish theatre.
So with the help of Dublin Theatre Festival, Musings in Intermissions is back for the duration of the festival!
With tickets acquired, the schedule cleared, expect to see a new review up here every morning.
In the meantime, feel free to use the comments below to voice your experiences at the festival. I want to hear from you!
Chris
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
THISISPOPBABY and the Abbey Theatre, ‘Alice in Funderland’: Curiouser and Bleerun’ Curiouser!
The Abbey Theatre, Dublin
Mar 30-May 12
My review of Alice
in Funderland coming up just as soon as I provoke you by failing to
distinguish between a cravat and a scarf ...
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Special Priced Tickets for Pan Pan’s ‘A Doll House’ for Musings Readers
I’m sure
it’s clear to many of you at this stage that I am a huge fan of Pan Pan.
I am
excited about their upcoming production of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House for many
reasons, chief among them being the casting of the marvellous Judith Roddy as
Nora Helmer (Roddy’s Ophelia in The Rehearsal’s
“Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?” scene is one of my favourite
theatre memories).
The
producer of A Doll House has been in touch to offer a special
deal for readers of this here blog.
Tickets (originally
priced at €30/28) are available to
readers for €16. Head over to the booking page and enter the code FriPan into
the box marked “production code”, or call the box office at 01 6770014 and
quote the code.
Below
are the show’s press release and trailer. See you all there!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Floating World Productions, ‘Picturing the Soul’: Hey Soul Sister
The
Back Loft, Dublin
Feb
18-19
My review of Picturing the Soul coming
up just as soon as I hand you a butterfly …
CoisCéim, ‘Touch Me’: Tables and Chairs
Town
Hall Theatre, Galway
Feb
14
My review of Touch Me coming up just
as soon as I hand you some keys ...
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sheer Tantrum, ‘The Master Builder’: Once Upon a Time There Was a Crack in a Chimney
The New Theatre, Dublin
Feb 6-18
My review of
Sheer Tantrum’s production of The Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen
coming up just as soon as I hang a wreath on a weathervane ...
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Gúna Nua and Civic Theatre, ‘The Goddess of Liberty’: Madame O Diva
Project
Arts Centre Cube, Dublin
Jan
31-Feb 18
My review of The Goddess of Liberty by
Karen Ardiff coming up just as soon as I talk to a middling actor man from
America ...
Sunday, January 29, 2012
ABSOLUT Fringe and Project Arts Centre give us Turn Around
THEATREclub’s
sonorous and rompous The Family finished its run this weekend
at Project Arts Centre, thus leaving a void in our lives as we await that rare contemporary
theatre piece unbound by convention until our Fringe overdose in September.
Thankfully,
both the Fringe and Project will be making the wait easier as they announced last
week their Turn Around season. In
April we will be reunited with five Fringe shows from the past. The release
states fringes, so it’s
possible we’ll see productions not just from last year but the 2010 and 2009 festivals
as well. The Final selected five haven’t been revealed yet but it’s fun
to speculate.
So I pose
the question: if you could bring back five Fringe productions – whether to relive
something you loved or rewrite the past and see what you had previously missed – what
would they be?
Here are
mine:
Thursday, January 19, 2012
THEATREclub and Project Arts Centre, ‘The Family’: We Begin and End With a Family
Project
Arts Centre Upstairs, Dublin
Jan
17-28
My review of The Family (with
spoilers) coming up just as soon as I see Mrs. Green on Sunday for book club …
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thoughts on Irish Times Theatre Awards Nominations 2011
The nominations are in for the Irish Times Theatre Awards
2011 (to be held Feb 26), and the details are here. I think this year’s shortlist
is a good reflection of the work produced. Here are some general thoughts:
When you’re right, you’re
right
I agree with the judges’ comments about how 2011 was great for
design, direction, but not writing. Pat Kinevane and Mark O’Halloran earned
their places here. Haven’t seen the others.
… and I was right!
Misterman a heavy contender in the tech categories is not
surprising. What I did predict successfully was that Pan Pan’s Aedín Cosgrove
would be giving them some competition.
We all need to go
north
The Lyric is obviously a force to be reckoned with, with 5 nominations
for Conall Morrison’s The Crucible.
The Male of the
Species: Commedia Action Man
I can’t comment on Patrick O’Kane but the rest sounds right.
Really happy to see Philip Judge get the nod, and while I sorely missed Man
of Valour from what I hear Reid was phenomenal. In the Supporting category I’ve only seen John
Olohan but Phelim Drew as violent Saranzo in The Making of ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore comes to mind.
The Female of the
Species: Amy Conroy has arrived
I didn’t see Conroy in the role she’s been nominated for but the
disarming I ♥ Alice ♥ I (bound for the Peacock Jan 30) along with consensual
praise in press indicate that she’s a hot ticket at the moment. It’s an obvious
move to nominate a Tony winner, and while Marie Mullen had her moment
(singular), I’d remove her from the list on the basis that Testament just wasn’t
good. Insert one of Selina Cartmell’s leads (Camille O’Sullivan and Kate
Stanley Brennan), or Pineapple’s Caoilfhionn Dunne
instead. As for Supporting Actress, great recognition for Karen Ardiff but
Caitriona Ní Mhurchú (who I am a big fan of), along with every other performer
in 16 Possible Glimpses, was squandered due to no fault of their own. What
about The Making of ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore’s Cathy Belton, Derbhle
Crotty for Corcadorcha’s The Winter’s Tale, or Bairbre Ní Chaoimh for her intimate
performance in Laundry instead.
What’s Missing?
Would Neil Watkins and The Year of Magical Wanking have
been considered for last year’s nominations or this years’? Either way, why the
hell isn’t he here? As for The Blue Boy and Follow, I imagine their
best chance of getting in here would probably have been through the tech
categories but those are flooded with Misterman nominations. Drat.
What’s going to win?
You tell me.Úna McKevitt, ‘565+’: The Woman Who Walked Into Theatre
Project Arts Centre,
Dublin
Jan 12-14
My review of 565+ coming up just as soon as I
give Sam Shepherd a thumbs up …