I had been expecting to work last night, but I got a call in the morning asking if I could fill in for somebody who was sick, so I did and got the evening free. I have a Couchsurfer staying for the weekend, a regular Writer's Week attendee, and she had booked a ticket to the play in St. John's, so I said I'd head along too.
The play was called Revenant, but this wasn't published in any of the booklets or on any of the listings for St. John's. Last minute cancellation by the production that was originally supposed to be on, and this one had filled in at the last minute (somewhat ironic as this is more or less exactly how Revenant opens). The result was an audience of about twenty people, which was a pity.
Before I go on, I should probably make it quite clear that I am not a theatre critic, but I know what I like and I'm well able to give out if something is shite, although I may not have the vocabulary or insight required to pull each part of a play to pieces and examine each bit in detail (although maybe I'm being too generous to theatre critics), but I really, really enjoyed this show.
Simon Toal's solo performance in this play by Stuart Roche was nothing short of outstanding. He narrates as Carter, a film director whose lead actor lets him down two days before they start filming a zombie movie on an island off the coast of Mayo, but suggests a mysterious replacement, the dark and enigmatic Vardell, who, it turns out, has his own agenda. I don't want to give away anything about the plot, so that's about all I'll tell you - but you can check out the official blurb in the link here.
I'll be honest, it took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on, and as it was my first time seeing a solo performance, I had to get used to Toal being 'more than one person' as he played out both sides of a conversation. But he did it utterly convincingly, and by scene two I was immersed in the story, which moves quickly, but coherently, darkly, but with plenty of witty observations and interactions thrown in to lighten it. I find myself smiling every time I think of his lines as the 'Rich Kid'. There were stages where I forgot where I was, when I was actually on the island with Carter as he went looking for Vardell; when I started at moments of high suspense; and plenty where I laughed out loud.
The quote from the Irish Times review, included on the advertising for the show, mentions 'media in-jokes', and there were, and I got a good few of them, but there were probably a few I missed. I would enjoy it if Daniel Radcliffe were to find himself in the audience, though.
Overall, can't fault it anywhere, I know I probably should, to make for a proper review but like I said, I'm not a critic (though I can be critical) . I would highly recommend to anyone who is in Dublin this Friday (6th June) to make their way to Draícht in Blanchardstown to check it out. I think it's also going to be in Galway sometime soon, so you might try that either.
Due to the small audience and the fact that he was a spectacularly nice guy, I had the opportunity to chat with Simon and his wife (or partner - didn't ask), but only after my Couchsurfer had got him to put back on his stage clothes so she could get a few pics of him, which she did, for about 10 minutes, getting him to take up different poses, even though the poor man must have been exhausted. It had been an energetic, 85 minute performance, for which he spoke almost constantly, he had to have been exhausted, but he played along for as long as it took. A true gent, and I was happy to have got the opportunity to congratulate him. I will be eagerly looking out for more from both Stuart Roche and Simon Toal in future.
As an aside, it so happens that I'll be in Dublin myself next Friday evening, but I'll be attending what I've taken telling people (including Mr. Toal) is a stag, but is actually a 'pre-hen'. A new term that means that I can go out with my soon-to-be-wed friend Elaine and many of the other ladies who will be attending the actual hen, being held the following night in a mystery location, but without the willy straws and what have you. It's just easier to say it's a stag. People ask less questions. It is unfortunate timing though, because otherwise I would be sending them all to Revenant.
The play was called Revenant, but this wasn't published in any of the booklets or on any of the listings for St. John's. Last minute cancellation by the production that was originally supposed to be on, and this one had filled in at the last minute (somewhat ironic as this is more or less exactly how Revenant opens). The result was an audience of about twenty people, which was a pity.
Before I go on, I should probably make it quite clear that I am not a theatre critic, but I know what I like and I'm well able to give out if something is shite, although I may not have the vocabulary or insight required to pull each part of a play to pieces and examine each bit in detail (although maybe I'm being too generous to theatre critics), but I really, really enjoyed this show.
Simon Toal's solo performance in this play by Stuart Roche was nothing short of outstanding. He narrates as Carter, a film director whose lead actor lets him down two days before they start filming a zombie movie on an island off the coast of Mayo, but suggests a mysterious replacement, the dark and enigmatic Vardell, who, it turns out, has his own agenda. I don't want to give away anything about the plot, so that's about all I'll tell you - but you can check out the official blurb in the link here.
I'll be honest, it took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on, and as it was my first time seeing a solo performance, I had to get used to Toal being 'more than one person' as he played out both sides of a conversation. But he did it utterly convincingly, and by scene two I was immersed in the story, which moves quickly, but coherently, darkly, but with plenty of witty observations and interactions thrown in to lighten it. I find myself smiling every time I think of his lines as the 'Rich Kid'. There were stages where I forgot where I was, when I was actually on the island with Carter as he went looking for Vardell; when I started at moments of high suspense; and plenty where I laughed out loud.
Overall, can't fault it anywhere, I know I probably should, to make for a proper review but like I said, I'm not a critic (though I can be critical) . I would highly recommend to anyone who is in Dublin this Friday (6th June) to make their way to Draícht in Blanchardstown to check it out. I think it's also going to be in Galway sometime soon, so you might try that either.
Due to the small audience and the fact that he was a spectacularly nice guy, I had the opportunity to chat with Simon and his wife (or partner - didn't ask), but only after my Couchsurfer had got him to put back on his stage clothes so she could get a few pics of him, which she did, for about 10 minutes, getting him to take up different poses, even though the poor man must have been exhausted. It had been an energetic, 85 minute performance, for which he spoke almost constantly, he had to have been exhausted, but he played along for as long as it took. A true gent, and I was happy to have got the opportunity to congratulate him. I will be eagerly looking out for more from both Stuart Roche and Simon Toal in future.
As an aside, it so happens that I'll be in Dublin myself next Friday evening, but I'll be attending what I've taken telling people (including Mr. Toal) is a stag, but is actually a 'pre-hen'. A new term that means that I can go out with my soon-to-be-wed friend Elaine and many of the other ladies who will be attending the actual hen, being held the following night in a mystery location, but without the willy straws and what have you. It's just easier to say it's a stag. People ask less questions. It is unfortunate timing though, because otherwise I would be sending them all to Revenant.
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