Kicking a dead horse

Kicking a Dead Horse at the Peacock

By Sam Shepard

Its a real pleasure to see something of this standard on in Dublin. The complete run is almost sold out, other than for some of the matinees, and i'd recommend anyone that can, to get one of the last tickets.
Although, having said that, it isn't for everyone. A few of the people I went with, had mixed feelings about it. It is quite cerebral, and as most monologues do, lacks movement or a dynamic on the stage.
The play starts with the main character digging a hole for his horse, in the middle of an unknown desert! The Horse has died near the start of his soul searching trip through the land he knew as a young man. He searching for 'Authenticity'.
It has the feel of a Beckett play and deals with some similar subject matter. Indeed, some of the plot devices used in 'waiting for godot' can be seen in this. Stephen Rea is great throughout. To hold the attention of an audience in a monologue such as this, must be difficult, but there was never a moment he wasn't commanding on the stage.
I'm off to London tomorrow, and don't expect to see anything better than this on the stage over there! Nice to see Sam Shepard at the back of the theatre at the end of the show also. He seems to have put a lot of time and effort into this production, and it shows!
4/5