Music & Book: Mick Flannery
Director: Julie Kelleher
The House Must Win, written by Mick Flannery, is a new musical that stems from the songs in Flannery’s debut album Evening Train.
It’s the 1970s, a small town in the west of Ireland (two towns over from Galway), and the local barman Frankie is saving up to get out of there. His brother Luther is not so keen to leave, he has their father’s dirty old habits of gambling and boozing; he’s certain he can beat the local bar owner and bank manager at poker. He thinks it’s a game the poor man can beat the rich man at, unaware that the house must always win.
This whirlwind of a Western musical is full of great performances, voices and plenty of laughs. Damien Kearney steals the show as John, much like a Shakespearean fool making critical observations that everyone else refuses to acknowledge. His comic ability is outstanding, and masks an aching loneliness in the character. The singers in this piece are mostly wonderful, in particular Tabitha Smyth who has an amazing voice, though not entirely in keeping with the style of the show (it occasionally felt like being at a pop concert). Star draw Tommy Tiernan falls short in the singing department, but he gives a solid dramatic performance.
Niall McNamee gives a heart-rending performance, with sensitivity and sadness oozing out of him. His singing is reminiscent of Nick Cave, but with heart; he’s a captivating performer. Ferdia Walsh-Peelo has a lovely voice but he doesn’t quite fit as Luther – something in him is a bit soft and bright eyed to play the hopeless chancer. The pair are believable and sweet as brothers who don’t talk but clearly love each other.
It would be easy for theatre aficionados to turn their noses up at the fairly thin and stereotypical plot- dead end town, gotta get outta this place, will the boy get the girl – but as a live experience it is invigorating. The musicians, beautifully tucked into the set -props to Ciaran Bagnall for creating a truly stunning set; it perfectly embodies the road to nowhere feel of the town – provide a wonderfully varied mix of genres. None of the music felt Irish, there’s a distinct American slant throughout – which is presumably a nod to the chokehold that the American dream had on Ireland then.
Any holes that could be poked here cannot take away from the fact that this is a fantastic show. Get to it, pronto.
Runs Until 3rd May.
