IrelandReview

The 3:30 at Cheltenham – Viking Theatre, Dublin

Reviewer: Lucy Richards-Smyrk

Writer: Kenneth Hudson

Director: Paul Meade

The 3:30 at Cheltenham is a short glimpse into the rollercoaster life of Andrew Williams and his gambling addiction. Being influenced by his Grandad at a young age Andrew (Kenneth Hudson) has been surrounded by gambling for the majority of his life, working in the pub that screens the races that’s just across the road from the bookies, Andrew is in deep with this dangerous game.

Even though it has caused him trouble in the past, Andrew can’t shake the feeling – despite desperate pleas from his family, it takes significantly extreme measures for him to do something about it.

The 3:30 at Cheltenham is a 70 minute, fixed set, two-hander between iconic duo Kenneth Hudson playing Andrew and tour de force Darragh Conway who plays every other character with ease and admiration. An engaging performance, Hudson is a buffalo diving straight into the plot and the audience can’t help but join the herd. He beautifully balances strength and vulnerability onstage, picking all the right moments to engage directly with the audience but never letting it get in the way of the story. Conway approaches each character with a different voice, physicality and with as much energy as the last. Regardless of who Conway conveys the chemistry and energy between the actors never dims making them the ideal pair to express this story.

The production design is cohesive, simply yet effectively pairing the text to the space. Huge praise must be given to lighting designer Ciara Meehan who has a clear skill at transfixing the audience with clever lighting moments. The set design in practice is understandable but potentially could’ve been expanded on as Hudson and his chair often seemed disconnected in this void separate from the over-ornate set piece. Daniel Montague O’Brien’s wondrous sound design enhanced moments with this effortless presence that naturally guided the text and momentum.

What was feared to be an Emmet Kirwan Old School wanna-be, turned into an incredibly well executed story of what happens when you bet big and the adrenaline takes over. A story that needs to be told and talked about, The 3:30 at Cheltenham promised laughs, relentless truth, insights into the quiet dark side of the gambling industry and it delivered. Congratulations to thecast and crew.

Runs Until 1st February 2025.

The Review's Hub Score

Magnetic, Enticing, Powerful

Show More
Photo of The Reviews Hub - Ireland

The Reviews Hub - Ireland

The Ireland team is currently under the editorship of Laura Marriott. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button
The Reviews Hub