Text, Composition & Lyrics: Emer Dineen
Directed & Developed by: Philip McMahon
Drag persona Cupid explodes on to the stage in the Town Hall Theatre Galway in a raucous dance number with live musical accompaniment, flashing disco lights and a hedonistic vibe. Emer Dineen’s moustachioed Cupid belts out lyrics centre stage while keeping admirable synchronism with her cheekily clad co-stars’ dance moves: Isabel Adomakoh Young and Carl Harrison provide stellar support throughout the performance, morphing into many different characters as the narrative evolves. This opening scene, set in Pinky’s drag club in London, is interrupted by a phone call Dineen receives on stage. Her girlfriend Tanya is breaking up with her, in front of an audience! This disaster sets in motion a series of life-crises which provide the foundation for Dineen’s show, a blend of realism and struggles in an atomised world, internalised pain, out-of-body surrealism and physical exuberance.
Dineen’s script, partly biographical, stages issues common to many, including the aforementioned relationship break-up, caring responsibilities for a parent (in Dineen’s case, her father), working in a call centre and getting fired from same, housing problems (including bees in the walls) and existential/spiritual crises. Despite the challenging themes the show is unabashedly upbeat, funny and life-affirming, due largely to the music and dance elements, written and composed by Dineen, which bring so much humour and emotion to the piece. Standout moments include: an energetic dance with those bees; Adomakoh Young’s glittering appearance as ‘the universe’; and an hilarious iconic moment with a haloed Dineen. Of equal note though are quieter moments where Dineen takes a banjo or keyboard, allowing her voice display its sweeter, clearer qualities and her lyrics shine.
Dineen’s coping mechanisms when life throws her curveballs are very relatable, self-destructive at times and often played for laughs but the show maintains an empathic approach throughout. It balances internalised dilemmas – is that buzzing in her head or in the walls – with a cheekily camp, playful and bawdy exterior. Dineen is a very talented individual and clearly found a symbiotic working partnership with director Philip McMahon and theatre company THISISPOPBABY. She is well supported by Adomakoh Young and Harrison who also display a remarkable breadth of ability. The show ends a little abruptly – maybe because we wanted more? – but lives up to its sell-out premiere reception at the Dublin Theatre Festival 2024. Post-show, Dineen reveals that her beloved father passed away recently, highlighting the personal aspect of the performance.
Reviewed: 23rd June 2026.
