Devised by: Cian Austin Jesus
Cian Austin Jesus (AKA Cian Kinsella) announced at the finish of his one man show, playing at the Galway Theatre Festival, that the piece is still a work in progress, something this reviewer was unaware of. It is possibly unfair to review the piece given this information – and the fact that it runs for just fifty minutes at the moment – but bearing this in mind when writing (and reading) the review, it seems reasonable to describe the experience and acknowledge the very real potential apparent in this show about the most macho man in the world, ever.
Kinsella’s roots as part of the Lords of Strut twosome (with Cormac Mohally) are in physical theatre and circus training. This background is obvious as he struts on stage, performs some fiercely self-conscious dance moves and segues effortlessly into acrobatic breakdancing. There is axe juggling and some truly wince-inducing wood chopping which is increasingly intense depending on your proximity to the stage. That stage is set up with various heaps of tree stumps and logs, providing ample opportunity for tough man poses, one leg on a stump, as Kinsella reassures us of his prowess as a man with an axe, and sends up the stereotype of performative manhood (the primary theme of the piece perhaps).
Additionally, there is audience participation (invited and just one person – kudos to Officer Mark), puppetry with Birdie # One, and a terrible bloody accident with bodily fluids becoming airborne (again, choose your seat with awareness). Kinsella carries off the persona of the “Bro’s Bro” with exterior musculature to match while allowing glimpses of his vulnerable interior to emerge. The show’s physicality and accessibility make for a very funny performance, this reviewer laughed the whole way through. Slightly less successful is the sub-theme of environmental concerns, which maybe needs to be more interconnected with the play as a whole, and the finale which didn’t quite do justice to the rest of the show.
Kinsella made a point of thanking the audience and his funders for supporting him after the show; he deserves thanks for giving his audience some genuinely hilarious moments on stage.
Runs Until 10th May 2025.
