Reviews of the latest offerings at the Fringe
Liliom *** SS Michael and John, Essex Street West, Temple Bar
It can be disheartening to see such eager, limitless, unalloyed, and enthusiastic young energy expended on a work which simply is not even deserving of the effort. I had not seen this play before, now I know why. Written by the Hungarian Ferenc Moinar and first produced in 1909, it was adapted as the musical Carousel by Rogers and Hammerstein in 1944. It lends itself to musicals, even opera. Veering between mawkish sentimentality, violence, prejudice and one-dimensional characterisation, it is a poor piece of work and by no means an adequate vehicle for this talented young cast. In structure it lurches from longeur to longeur, relieved only when the inevitable - eventually, and thankfully - happens. The question insisting itself all through the performance is "why this play?" Of the cast, Esther O'Moore Donoghue, Dermot MaGennis, and Paul Connaughton stood out in particular. But even to select them is invidious. It is for all the cast that this production gets its three stars. (Until Sun)
Patsy McGarry
The Miserable Failure of Bernard Comiskey *** International Bar
Given the place of property in the national psyche - any dinner party conversation is routinely dominated by prices, valuations, location, and interest rates - this production is timely. Fintan O'Higgins's play centres on one unhappy day in the life of a singularly inept estate agent and his attempts to let the only property on his books, a townhouse in which the main feature is something unpleasant rotting in the garden. Played by Jon David Yu, Bernard Comiskey is a likeable shambles whose fiancée is waiting at the airport, while he dallies with his prospective client. All the other parts are played by Romy Tennant. Like Yu, she is an accomplished actor and the two create a lively dramatic milieu out of the Spartan stage setting. The play itself is engaging, but could be tighter, while Amy Bonsall's direction could be swifter. (Until Sat)
Noeleen Dowling
Woyzeck ***** Ss Michael and John, Essex Street West, Temple Bar
I have to say this is the first production of Georg Bühner's classic I have liked. Indeed "liked" is faint praise, because this is a superb production of a potentially very dour drama. In this Rough Magic, Seeds 2 Showcase show, directed by the clearly very talented Matt Torney, we are moved to pity by the contrast of emotions he elicits through presenting tragedy in cabaret style. It is a brave but in this instance very effective step as juxtaposing tragedy against an opposite background could so easily result in farce. But, not here. This is a highly imaginative, clever, very sexy production of a play that can be anything but. The murder scene, even, is as erotic as it is awful, suggesting the act which begins life with one that ends it. The cast are excellent, especially Malcolm Adams in the lead, with wonderful music direction from Helene Montague. Just one quibble. Would the Drum Major please remove his wedding ring during performance. It undermines the credibility of his character! (Until Sun)
Patsy McGarry
Star turns
***** Excellent
**** Good
*** More good than bad
** More bad than good
* Bad
