Shake it, shake it, shake it, Salome

This production of the Oscar Wilde play has been adapted to feature the feel of the decadent 20's in America. The style and clothes of the actors correspond to that. It is a reprisal of the Stephen Berkoff version from around 10 years ago, which is often mentioned in hushed tones, and featured the late dice man as the executioner.

Some other members of the cast have also changed, most notably Salome herself, as the new actress (Fiona O'Shaughnessy) is somewhat of a weak link in the piece. Her voice grates, and sounds like a children's tv presenter, but she does look the part, and moves with the grace that you would expect.

Generally well acted, especially by Alan Stanford (not an actor i generally enjoy) and Barbara Brennan. The the set, while being somewhat barren, and the music that is played through add to the silent movie or mime feel of the whole play. The minor characters form a chorus at the back of the stage, singing or repeating lines that the main characters have already spoken. This device works better than you would imagine, and adds to the drama of the piece.

I wasn't in any way familiar with the play before seeing it, and it is a pity to see it first time, in the re-constructed staging that is evident in this, but having said that, it did work. While i would be somewhat reserved about my recommendation of the play, mainly due to Salome herself, it is still a worthwhile event, and deservig of your time.

3/5

This is not a theatre blog!

Honest.

It just seems that way.
Hmm.
Maybe i've found a niche. The four people that go to the theatre in dublin, when its not disney on ice or Mama Mia can visit this site regularly to find out what i liked and didn't like.
I think its working like this. I go to the cinema loads too, but i'm always behind the times. I'm aiming to go to inland empire this week, and i'm going this week as i think it finishes on thursday! Its always the same, i go to things with panic for fear that they'll close before i see them.
I buy a decent amount of music also, but its generally being posted from Hong Kong, or somewhere, so by the time its arrived, the critics have already all had their say, and it all seems old hat. I guess i need to convince to give me stuff for free before it comes out. That should be easy enough!
With the theatre, i'm just being cheap. Previews are cheaper, so I go to them. Then when i'm thinking of what to chat about on this site, it always seems obvious enough.
Anyway, here's a review of things i've generally liked in the last while, but haven't mentioned as they're hopelessly out of date!
Music

Fionn Regan - Yep, he arrived. They're lovely songs, very melodic and just canter away, with great plucked guitars. I'm not sure i'm completely convinced by his lyrics. Maybe i'm just being stoopid, but things like 'I have become, an aerial view of a coastal town, that you once knew' just dont' mean a lot to me. Is he trying to suggest that he's become a distant image as he fades from her world, or... god only knows. Anyway, I've a nagging doubt that they're just lyrics, words, that don't have huge meaning. Anyway, i'm enjoying it none the less, just slightly less than i though i would! 3.5/5

Arcade Fire - Another small let down. It all sounds like I've heard them before. Even the lyrics seem strangely familiar, i'll have to research it better, but i think they're covering at least one of their older songs, or maybe i just heard it on the internet somewhere before i got it!
They've made their sound slightly bigger, using church organs and choirs and the like, which does seem quite impressive. The slow songs lose me completely though. There's more than enough on it, to make me happy i bought it, just a few too many songs i skip, if i'm near the cd player! 3/5.

Kristin Hersh - Ok, if you've ten or twelve albums from her already, this will not shock you! Its got some interesting arrangements, with strings in almost every song., Violin and Cello to augment the three piece rock band of 50ft wave! Its definitely the best album of her last few in my mind, and varies between fast and slow songs to give the album some variation and depth. 3/5.

Cinema
Venus - I like that he's a horrible nasty character, not a sweet gentle old man. I real old Lech, who is disgusted that he can't pull like he once did. Its well acted throughout, but there's a lull after an initial high. It starts incredibly, but loses its pace and humour slightly after the initial half hour or so, and falls away. The end is slightly sentimental, but still, made me laugh more than once and is worth it for the performances alone. 3/5

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

I am not a number, I am a free man

A Number - Peacock Theatre

The London version of this play had Michael Gambon and Daniel Craig. One version in America had Sam Shepard playing the father. Unfortunately, in Ireland, we got two relatively unknowns. This was not always meant to be the case. In fact, Tom Hickey was meant to play the father, but after 'artistic differences' with the director, pulled out with two weeks to go. I'm sure this lead to a huge amount of panic, and meant that the guy they did end up with, was unfortuately, someone who was not working at this time. I think this may have been with good reason. He was a plank!
The other actor involved was much more up to speed. He had the more difficult role of the two, having to play three differect characters in the one piece. Each as clones of the other, each fundamentally different from the other!
There did seem to be some basic quality in the writing, but it barely escaped from what was on stage. The main device, used throughout the play, is of having one actor finish the other's sentences for them. It showed how under rehearsed the play was, as there was clear gaps between when one stopped and when the other actor started talking! There was be a brief pause from when one stopped talking before the other picked up on the thread, which felt bizarre, like dead air on the radio!
It was a pity as the play may have been good, but with this leaden performance, was never destined to make the grade. The night I went to it, there was a secondary school year at it. I'm sure they got reduced price or free tickets to fill up the space. The Peacock will have to do a heck of a lot better before the crowds will come back to its doors.

Will be interesting to see how Sam Shepard does with his new play. Going next week. Should be fun anyway....

American Buffalo

American Buffalo at the Gate.
I think my only problem with this production is amazingly enough with David Mamet's script! Its a well written piece as ever, and has the usual level of interesting banter between the various players, but it never really moves above it!
It was possibly the only major piece of his work that i was not familiar with, and i had expected quite a bit from it. It has the feel and general structure of Glengarry Glenross, but lacks a few of the twists that draw the viewer into the story, as they try to peice together what really happened.
In fact, there is very little plot at all to the piece. A robbery that never happens is the jist of the story, but i guess that isn't as important as to why it never happens and the dynamics between the characters involved.
The three main actors are all worthwhile, and the gate has done its usual trick of drawing in a big name, in this case, our own Aiden Gillen (star of Queer as folk and starting to make a name for himself in the states) is the main draw.
The set is a convincing version of a curiosity shop from the mid 70's, other than a few pieces that don't look quite old enough!
It is certainly an entertaining piece, and a worthwhile way to spend an afternoon or night, just lacks some depth.
3/5

Blackbird

Blackbird. - An interesting tale that dances the line between love and abuse of a minor, which had us talking about topics and plot upon leaving the theatre. Unfortunately, none of us could say that we really enjoyed the play. It was flawed in many aspects, Stephen Brennan had the near impossible talk of making a paedophile seem likable and making it seem like it was more than abuse. He did not achieve either of those things, and didn't give the viewer any discernable reason for why the young girl was captivated by him.
Similar to Fausten (the Dogma movie and play that was recently produced in the Gate Theatre), the abuse was carried out a long time in the past, and we are not directly asked to go through any of these experiences. It lacks the impact of Fausten and also the humour.
The world of theatre is throwing up a lot of similar discussions on child abuse, with Fausten (mentioned above) and Doubt in the abbey. It does seem to be a hot topic, but personally feel it generally makes for a difficult night at the theatre.
The play only has two actors, and does not move even remotely from its topic at hand. It tries to keep the viewer on an emotional high, which is near impossible for a play of two hours. It needed some break from the relentless revelations and the story is slowly revealed to the audience.
The play is not without its positives, a stunning set, and the lead female's role was quite powerful. Maybe it was just one to many on a similar theme.
3/5