Musings Listings: February 2011

With many of the country’s greatest theatre acts taking off these days to tackle America with Culture Ireland’s ‘Imagine Ireland’ scheme, Dublin theatre audiences appear to have been left at the mercy of oestrogen-empowered comedies such as Calendar Girls in the Grand Canal or Adele King’s Grumpy Old Women in the Gaiety. While these large-scale, internationally-toured productions are sure to bring in the big bucks, there are a lot of local performances to be excited about also. Indeed, February 2011 can be characterised as a month of Irish theatre where the parents have gone away on business and the kids are now out to play.

Wish I had seen ‘Medea’: Irish Times Theatre Awards Nominations

It’s been over a week since the Irish Times Theatre Awards nominations were announced, and I was too busy working on a show at the time to write my thoughts on them.

First: I’m glad to see Pan Pan’s The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane (*) is a contender for ‘Best Production’. I was curious to see how the judging panel would grade the show considering its postmodern nature and the indefinite variables in its live performance (I wonder how our three Hamlets were considered in the ‘Best Actor’ category?). No show had more confident a harness of theatricality this past year than Playing the Dane, and while Gavin Quinn has carelessly been excluded from the category for ‘Best Direction’ it’s great to see fellow Pan Pan genius Aedín Cosgrove get recognition for her set design. By also throwing Anu Productions’s World’s End Lane into the dogfight, the judges have admirably chosen to acknowledge theatrical ingenuity not only in performance that is strictly traditional but also in the increasing output of postmodern work as well.

(*) The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane review:

http://musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/2010/10/pan-pan-rehearsal-playing-dane-bins.html#more

Most prominently felt in this shortlist is Siren Productions for their performance of Medea (pictured above) in the Fringe, which has bagged five nominations including ‘Best Production’, ‘Best Director’, and ‘Best Actress’. I didn’t see the show but I have heard good things, and would be interested to hear from those who saw it if they think it deserves such attention.

The Company, ‘As You Are Now So Once Were We’

Peacock Stage, Abbey Theatre, Dublin

Jan 25 – Feb 5

I sang high praise of The Company’s excellent As You Are Now So Once Were We in my ‘Best of Irish Theatre 2010’ over Christmas (a link to that review is at the bottom of this post), and the show comes back tonight on the Peacock Stage for a run until Feb 5. I’m going to use the comments section below as a platform for discussing the show.

The Company invited me to their dress rehearsal today and the show is as fantastic as I remembered. As You Are … is an artifice composed of friendship, cardboard boxes, meticulous performances, charm, and an undercurrent of philosophical hues that are gorgeously imagined.

Go.

Seriously.

 Original Review for ‘As You Are …’:

http://musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-of-irish-theatre-2010-5-company-as.html#more

Trailer for ‘As You Are …’:

http://vimeo.com/18954382

Wrong Curtain, ‘Cíosa Le Gear’

Cíosa Le Gear, The play I’ve directed with Wrong Curtain, opens tonight in the Town Hall, Galway and runs until Friday 21^st. I’m always looking for feedback so please feel free to use the comments section below to share your thoughts. Here is the show’s press release:

Cíosa Le Gear is a contemplation into the human-music rapport. Cíosa is a real-life young songwriter from Galway. Using biographical information from a series of interviews, a group of actors and musicians have come to form relationships with Cíosa and her songs, whilst reflecting on their own relationships to music in the process. After weeks of exploration we found not only Cíosa, but ourselves.

Cíosa Le Gear is our way of telling you our secret. 

Wrong Curtain was established by John J. Smyth and Chris McCormack in 2010 to practice theatre that is in aberration from the traditional. Our aim is to render theatrical space in its intimate and harmonious quarters as opposed to its fictitious faculties. Through the rearranging of theatrical form, we seek to explore realities that are universal and true.

Will be getting around to writing my thoughts on the Imagine Ireland scheme and the Irish Times Theatre nominations later in the week.

Forced Entertainment, ‘Void Story’: A Night Out At The Theatre/Cinema/Radio/Etchells

Project Arts Centre, Dublin

Jan 13-14

My review of Void Story coming up just as soon as I look for some leaves with medicinal properties …

Smashing Times crack the hourglass with ‘Shattering Glass’

I forgot to mention in my January listings Smashing Times and their ‘Acting For Change’ initiative in Donegal. The project utilises drama and theatre activities within Donegal to engage participants to explore themes that are a consequence of the conflict in Northern Ireland and the Southern Border counties.

As part of the initiative the company present Shattering Glass – an original production developed from an extensive period of research, workshops and interviews. The play explores memories, conflicts, and trauma through the portrayal of intense and dramatic experiences. The play opens at Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey on the 11^th, and then moves to Ramelton Town Hall on the 12^th, Colgan Community and Resource Centre in Carndonagh the 13^th, and the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny on the 14^th.  

I really admire Smashing Times’ ethos of communal collaboration and social engagement. Turning their gaze to the traumatic history of Northern Ireland makes brilliant sense, and I’m really glad that someone is focusing theatre towards the cultural resonances of the nation’s darkest times.  

Musings Listings: January 2011

Happy 2011! One of my resolutions this year is to make this blog brilliant. One of the areas I feel that need improvement is promotion. Indeed, most of the shows I write about have finished their run by the time I get my pieces about them up. Thus, welcome to a new feature of Musings: a monthly listing of the shows that are on during the given month.

I’m happy to see that January 2011 is notable for other than the panto procession which usually dominates this time of year (though if you do fancy seeing Jafar, Abu, Iago, and company then the Gaiety is the place to go). Personally, my pick of the month is Forced Entertainment’s Void Story (pictured above) (Project Arts Centre, 13-14). Not often do these theatrical daredevils touch down on Irish soil, and those who know them know that they have an uncanny ability to warp theatrical form to marvellously demented results. The play tells the story of two survivors of a decimated civilization in a sort of ‘visual-radio play’ style.

 Also worth going to (even if have already) is The Company’s As You Are No So Once Were We(*), which has its well-earned run on Peacock stage, 25^th-Feb 5^th . Brilliant show.

 * Original review:

http://musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-of-irish-theatre-2010-5-company-as.html#more

Also over in Dublin …

Best of Irish Theatre 2010 #1: Pan Pan, ‘The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane’

Samuel Beckett Theatre, Dublin

Oct 1-10

Again, if you look through my archive you will find a post on The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane (I’ll be nice and put the link at the bottom of this post).

Pan Pan made not only a really fun production for die-hard theatre buffs with this one, but utilized an ingenious stagecraft as well as a brilliant court of actors who brought endless humour and emotionally moving performances.

From establishing the performers in their personal and professional capacities as they audition for the role of ‘Hamlet’, Gavin Quinn and Pan Pan take us to an Elsinore of mirrored halls and rubbish cans where the impetus to ‘perform’ doesn’t shroud the indefinite natures of the individuals. Instead we are witness to the actors’ abilities to rise to the occasion and make Shakespeare’s masterpiece their own.

What a wonderful cast. Particularly enjoyable was seeing Connor Madden overcome his actor insecurities with a grand feat of athleticism and raw emotion, paying homage to the divine role with charm and skill. Also a highlight was Judith Roddy’s performance as Ophelia, drenched in rubbish and sorrow. Absolutely mesmerizing and gorgeous.

Brilliant show.

As for the best individual performances of the year …

-         Madden and Roddy for Playing the Dane. These guys can captivate an audience single-handedly.

-         Penelope nobles Tadhg Murphy and Niall Buggy. Absolutely incredible work.

 

-         Christ Deliver Us! tragic youths Aoife Duffen and Laurence Kinlan. These kids just break your heart.

-         Little John Nee for Barabbas’s Johnny Patterson the Singing Irish Clown. Much more than just a comic troubadour.

-         Hillary O’Shaughnessy for taking us through her broken city while courageously facing off street punks with the assistance of a guitar-wielding busker in Playgroup’s Berlin Love Tour. She also gave us gummy bears.

Best writing …

-         Kilroy for Christ Deliver Us! and Walsh for Penelope. Both brilliant pieces.

Best direction …

-         Gavin Quinn deserves the trophy for The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane. Garry Hynes brought some epic production values into The Silver Tassie though.

Well that’s 2010 wrapped up (with only a few hours to spare).

See you in the new year folks.

The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane review:

http://musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/2010/10/pan-pan-rehearsal-playing-dane-bins.html#more

Best of International Theatre 2010 #1: Ontroerend Goed, ‘The Smile Off Your Face’

Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin

Sept 30 – Oct 3

One could accuse me of laziness. Not only is The Smile Off Your Face not a show that debuted in 2010 (which is the point of this list) and in fact came onto the scene a few years ago, but it is also a show I have already written about (the link to that post is on the bottom of this one). I gave The Smile Off Your Face #1 not only because it was hands down the greatest theatre experience for me this past year, but one of the most magical experiences of my whole life.

Smile is basically a mirror, ironic as it is seeing as you’re blindfolded throughout. Much like the 101 scenarios, this show has the ability to get under the surface of your very being. Whereas the Oneohone example I wrote about prompts you to reflect on your courage, or lack thereof, Ontroerend Goed softly treads the peripheries of your intimate, personal life.    

The magic of this show lies in the trust between your disabled self and the mysterious performers who surround you, as you together draw back the curtain of the syncretism of theatrical illusionary and reality. This material is the fabric of theatre, of art, and never quite has one sailed (or pushed in a wheelchair) so close to this sight of the real and unreal being so beautifully harmonized.

Beautiful.

The Smile Off Your Face review:

http://musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/2010/10/ontroerend-goed-smile-off-your-face.html#more

Other Ontroerend Goed …

Internal:

http://musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/2010/10/ontroerend-goed-internal-blind-date.html#more

A Game of You:

http://musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/2010/10/ontroerend-goed-game-of-you-about-you.html#more

Teenage Riot:

http://musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-of-international-theatre-2010-5.html#more

Best of Irish Theatre 2010 #2: Druid, ‘Penelope’

Druid Lane Theatre, Galway

Jul 8-24

 

“A group of men with a common ideology, a collective direction! That’s what you’re suggesting, Quinn! We’re building a company right here!” 

– Dunne

“There’s no point. We’re the talking dead. Now I want to talk about my friend Murray” 

– Burns

Choosing only five productions from this past year has not been an easy task. Even tougher was deciding which order they should be in.

I gave The Company #5 for their sharp ingenuity and effortless charm. I gave Druid’s The Silver Tassie #4 for the momentous production values and O’Casey’s enigmatic script. Christ Deliver Us!, then, felt like the perfect match of the greatest theatrical resources of the nation with one of the strongest literary voices of the nation. The Abbey-Thomas Kilroy combo was perfect in poetry and relevance. However, I don’t think it quite beats the latest jewel from Druid’s genius correspondence with Enda Walsh.