Post-Galway Comedown

Just had a wonderful 2 weeks in Galway for the family wedding and Arts Festival. Most days I'd have a swim at Blackrock followed by hours of coffee drinking and theatre attendance.

Working for a living is highly over-rated...

Firebirds on High St during the Festival

Peter Crawley does a good job of summing up the festival in the Irish Times here: Disquiet on the Western Front

My own personal highlights were:
- Decadent's production of Blackbird - a gripping two-hander about a convicted paedophile being confronted by his victim with many unexpected twists,
- David O'Doherty's lunchtime show at the King's Head - extreme hilarity without offense or discomfort
- Bon Iver's haunting melodies at the Big Top...despite it not being an ideal venue for such intimate music the songs were captivating and Justin Vernon's obvious affection for Galway gave the show a special edge
- Propeller's all-male production of A Midsummer Night's Dream - hilarious, spirited and utterly magical.

Circa's show Furioso was disappointing. The performers displayed their acrobatic skills without a shred of humour, excitement or charisma. There was no narrative, no character - nothing to engage the audience. Having heard such good things about previous shows it was a real let-down.

The Macnas parade too was somewhat anti-climactic appearing shambolic and pathetically small due to miscommunication about its layout. The crowd were not aware that the show was really the finale at the Cathedral and not the parade through the town. We had talked up the Parade hugely to all the wedding guests over from Scotland but most looked decidedly unimpressed on the night. I realise that budgets were greatly tightened this year but decent communication and marshalling doesn't cost a dime - it just involves better organisation.

I have to admit - the Ghost horse was pretty cool though:



And so the Arts Festival is over for another year. I'm boycotting the Races due to lack of energy/funds but will meet up with the gang in Galway for the Bank Holiday weekend.

As long as I can spend most of my summers in Galway...I think I'll be happy.

100 Minutes 2009 - Ten New Plays About Now

100 Minutes 2009 opened at the Samuel Beckett Theatre in TCD last night - it runs till the 28th March so plenty of time to get in and see it! Here's the promo:

100 Minutes 2009 brings together some of the freshest acting and directing talent in Ireland today to work with emerging playwrights from around the globe to stage 'ten new plays about now'.

Painted Filly created 100 Minutes, a powerful and exciting format of theatre in which ten new plays by ten international writers are performed by ten actors in a single night. Fast-paced and entertaining, this ensemble production will deliver ten bold new texts in its distinctive 'elemental' style, aggressively focusing on the body, the voice and the empty space.

From fame to fear, foreign policy to flirting, hedge-funds to hunger and a generous dollop of rhubarb and custard along the way, 100 Minutes 2009 gives you ten distinct stories in rapid-fire succession, ten moments snatched from 'credit-crunch' Ireland and beyond.

The production features the acting talents of Sophie Campbell, Hilary Cotter, Mark Gordon, Yare Jegbefume, Aidan Jordan, Mark McCabe, Brenda Meaney, Robert O'Connor, Lorna Quinn, and Claudia Schwartz. It will be directed by Will Irvine, Louise Lowe, Gemma McGill, Bush Moukarzel, Sophie Motley, and Tara Robinson. Design is by Katherine Graham, and Nick Johnson serves as Artistic Director of 100 Minutes 2009.

Painted Filly Theatre is running 100 Minutes for its fourth successive year and gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council for this production. Book your tickets here: www.paintedfilly.com or (01) 896 2461.

Big Up to Big Love

Yup just when I thought all was lost and I was to starve culturally for the week, theatre swung in to save the day.

Big Love at the Peacock was great - a great play with a great cast and beautiful set, brilliantly directed by the (yet to disappoint) Selina Cartmell.

Based on The Suppliant Women by Aeschylus (believed to be the oldest surviving play of the Western world), Big Love tells the tale of 50 women being forced to marry their cousins against their will. It sets the scene for much discussion on gender roles and relations, marriage, power and love.

The beau enjoyed it (Yey the beau likes theatre!) but was unimpressed by the portrayal of men in the play, one of whom gives a speech moreorless justifying domestic violence. I'm pretty sure that character wasn't meant to be a symbol for maleness or a role model within the play. I think the beau was right, however, to think the male perspective is underrepresented in the play. We get to hear from the women far more than from the men and it might have been more interesting had it been more balanced.

Yet again the Guardian review verbalises my thoughts succinctly and the Irish Times review pinpoints some of the shows minor flaws.

It gets the Dobbyn 'worth a look' verdict.

Here I Go Again...

Back from Herrang - and still wrecked.

Who would have thought that dancing all day and all night for a week would be tiring? It didn't help that the 'private' room had a constant stream of people seeking showers going through it....really need to become a better sleeper.

It was a great week overall though - Herrang is still a fun, happy place and yet more Irish people got hooked this year. I especially enjoyed the final night party 'Home of the Happy Feet' - a bingo hall, nurses going around giving out 'medication', a senior Olympics, quilting, knitting, easy-chew food - so much imagination and creativity. Will get some pictures up as soon as I figure out how to get the new broadband working on my laptop at home.

Busy week of cultural imbibement ahead - Savage Grace at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield tonight, Big Love at the Peacock on Thursday, Painted Filly play readings in Project on Saturday, TKO at Whelan's on Saturday and...um....Mamma Mia on Wednesday night....ok I know it will be awful, if this review is anything to go by anyway. I have a morbid curiosity about it due to my love of Abba music and how good the stage musical is meant to be.

I think it'll be worth it to see:
a) Pierce Brosnan attempting to sing
b) Meryl Streep doing the splits
c) to get to eat a big bag of popcorn and maybe some Ben & Jerry's ice-cream. (why else do we go to the cinema really?)

Reviews and reports here shortly.