Author: The Reviews Hub - Ireland

Writer: Eva O’Connor Director: Dominic O’Brien The second offering from Glass Mask theatre’s 5th season doesn’t disappoint. Written by acclaimed Irish playwright Eva O’Connor, Horse Play is modern, moving, and unexpected. This well directed two hander is a story about Ciaran Kelly, a former star jockey with a strained relationship with his father, an eating disorder, and a missing prized racehorse named King. The writing is distinctly Irish and very regularly laugh out loud funny, but as always, O’Connor brings a beautifully deep and nuanced story to her audience, that goes far beyond the mysterious disappearance of a racehorse. From…

Writer: Rosa Bowden Director: Hildegard Ryan Frigid, staged in the Bewley’s Café Theatre and directed by Hildegard Ryan, is a stand out from the moment you enter, with Lip balloons and disco lights transporting you back to the infamous  teenage discos that most of us can fondly (or regretfully) recall. Disco music blaring, this immersive experience really hits the nail on the head of the Irish teenage experience. The costuming within this show was very well executed, with our lead beginning in a sweet 1950’s style dress, to the very well depicted travesty of the blotchy fake tan, backcombed hair…

Writer: Keelin Sanz Director: Keelin Sanz A delightful and disturbing short, Wo/Mi is a strong piece from Keelin Sanz and a great addition to the festival. A three-hander filled with humour, horror, and interesting dance pieces, it’s a pleasure to dip into it for the quick 20-minute running time. Freya Blendell plays arguably the main character of the piece, a puppet of the American healthcare system (though it doesn’t seem so far from ours), being pushed and pulled and prodded by medical staff played by Darragh Scannell and Olivia Walsh. The stage is sparse, the costume changes are fluid and…

Writer: Ciarán Treanor Director: Ciarán Treanor Show Time! Is a very energetic offering from Ciarán Treanor, opening with a fantastic full cast dance number that really captures the audience’s attention. The story follows the lead up to Isabella’s (Jane Tuohy) opening night (and also her birthday party), and the many interactions and moments that seem to capture her life and personality. The audience develops an understanding of her through the way she reassures her producers, humours the actor that will be playing her (Sorcha Herlihy) in the biopic, sidelines the director looking to learn from her (Carla Foley) and suffers…

Writer:  Callum Maxwell Director:  Lee Coffey It comes as no surprise that ‘Oh, Brother’ was a nominee for ‘The Little Gem’ Award at Dublin’s Fringe Festival last September, where they enjoyed a sold out run. Presented by ‘Ragged Ruin’ in collaboration with Bewley’s Café Theatre, who sponsor the award, Callum Maxwell’s debut play is an absolute must see. This is the story of two brothers reuniting after years of separation. 31 year old Matthew, played by Ruairi Lenaghan, was given up for adoption at birth by his Mother (“She gave me up, she signed the papers”). Mary O’Dwyer then goes…

Writer: Martin McDonagh Director: Declan Rudden “I suppose now you’ll never be dying. You’ll be hanging on forever, just to spite me.” The set design perfectly prepares the audience for an evening in a west of Ireland country kitchen (with the stereotypical religious paraphernalia) but nothing could prepare us for the misery. Though of course, those of us who know Martin McDonagh’s dark writing wouldn’t be a bit surprised by the horrors that awaited. Martin McDonagh is on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days with the popularity of the Banshees of Inisherin, but it’s in watching this production of…

Writer: Samuel D. Hunter Director: Rex Ryan For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to visit the intimate Glass Mask Theatre yet, The Few would be a wonderful reason to do so. A surprisingly touching offering for the beginning of their fifth season, The Few is an 85-minute three hander that takes the audience into a trailer cum newspaper office in Northern Idaho, to meet a returning trucker, his bitter ex-partner, and the enthusiastic young man who has taken over his job. The piece opens with the return of Bryan, played very genuinely by Jed Murray, to the…

Writer: Michael J Harnett Director: Vinnie McCabe Grab yourself a coffee or hot chocolate from the takeaway bar in Dublin’s iconic Bewley’s Café this lunchtime and head up to its theatre on the second floor where The Cloudspotter by  playwright Michael J Harnett will captivate and move you. The lights come up on 16 year old Thomas stood before the court. As his misdemeanors are being put to him in a cleverly crafted setting of the scene, Nan steps forward to plead for leniency. She has raised her grandson since his Mother died from the “scourge” of drugs. He is…