Victor and Gord

Project Arts Centre Cube, Dublin Until Feb 27 15/12 projectartscentre.ie 01-8819613

Early last year, adventurous theatre director Una McKevitt introduced us to her sister, Áine – nicknamed “Gorgeous” or simply “Gord” – and her one-time best friend, Vickey Curtis. The two warmly likeable twentysomethings from Killiney, Co Dublin, whose lives never seemed to have been brushed by the extraordinary, seemed unlikely subjects for a piece of documentary theatre. Yet that was partly the point. Friendships, families, childhood reminiscences and random thoughts were recalled by non-performers fidgeting adorably on the stage. They were real. You liked them. You looked at them . . . It was the theatrical version of Facebook.

Since then, three versions have seen the project metastasise into something more complex: first into a piece for four (introducing two Kilkenny siblings) and then for six (introducing two mutual strangers). Now McKevitt returns with a slimmed-down fourth version, in which Victor and Gord are joined by Jay Breen, “a real life hero”, jolting the show in a new direction, with previous contributors featuring on video.

McKevitt’s idea has always been intriguing and mildly troubling, its delivery endearingly frayed and its subjects vulnerable. How much life is left in this story of real lives provides for a pleasing mind game, before the documentary begins to document itself, or its non- performers finally qualify for equity membership.

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