The Shawshank Redemption

Gaiety Theatre, Dublin Previews Until May 18 Opens May 19-Jun 20 8pm, Sat mat 3pm 25-55 01-6771717

Chiselling, hacking and whittling away at the stubborn walls in your path, sometimes for several years, in the hope of an amazing breakthrough and enormous financial reward – such is the dream of both Andy Dufresne and Lane Productions.

Owen O’Neill and Dave John’s long-gestating adaptation of the Stephen King novella (rights to the much more famous film were out of reach) certainly has its work cut out for it. Try as they might, convincing an audience that theirs is not a retread of a story that works better on DVD is hard labour.

Expectations haven’t been managed by the casting of Kevin Anderson and Reg Cathey in the roles of Andy, the wrongly convicted banker, and his provider and friend Red: fine actors both, but doppelgangers for their movie counterparts.

Given the professional integrity of director Peter Sheridan, hopes are high that the production can still break free of such confines. After the controversy over non-speaking actors’ pay both characters and makers could do with some redemption. Let’s hope for a great escape.

Can’t see that? Catch this

Michael CollinsOlympia Theatre, Dublin