| Theatre and Gig Reviews THEATRE
PREVIEW
Rare Oul’ Times
By Grainne McLoughlin
Touring across Britain and Ireland over the last few months, The Rare
Oul’ Times has been delighting audiences time and time again with the antics
of Irish literary legends Patrick Behan and Patrick Kavanagh.
Set to arrive in St. Mary’s Parish Centre Derby this week, chances to
see this great piece of theatre are running out.
Based in John Ryan’s famous Bailey Pub in Duke Street Dublin, the audience
are on-lookers as two of Ireland’s most outrageous and notorious drinkers
and literary figures Behan and Kavanagh discuss their successes, failures
and love lives to date in 1950s Dublin.
The play evokes nostalgia, humour and song in equal measure, flowing
proportionately to that of the ‘black stuff’ consumed by the Irishmen.
Billed as a production guaranteed to send you home with a tear in your
eye and a smile of your lips, Rare Oul’ Times does exactly what it says
on the tin.
It is 41 years since Brendan Behan died and 101 years since Patrick Kavanagh
was born. And this evening with Brendan and Patrick marks both those significant
dates in Irish literature bringing these two characters together in the
perfect surroundings of our London Irish Centres.
The cast sympathetically portray the literary brilliance of both Behan
and Kavanagh together with their humour, music and also their sadness.
It explores their different backgrounds, the streetwise Behan from the
tough tenements of North Dublin and Kavanagh, the cobbler's son from impoverished
Co. Monaghan. The play allows Behan to be at his most outrageous and Kavanagh
to be at his most vitriolic.
Rare Oul’ Times — which received a standing ovation at Belfast’s Lyric
recently — is a rare experience which should not be missed. Starring Ken
McElroy, Rare Oul Times will play at St. Mary’s Parish Centre, Darley Lane,
Derby. For further information and tickets contact the Box Office on 01332
346126.
THEATRE PREVIEW
Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol
By Grainne McLoughlin
If there’s one thing that’s sure to raise spirits amid the chaos and
craziness of the festive season it’s snuggling down to enjoy Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol.
And this year sees second-generation Irish actor Patrick Stewart return
to the stage to star in his very own adaptation of the novel.
Bringing his critically acclaimed production of Dickens’ A Christmas
Carol back to the London stage for just 23 performances — December 6-31
at the Albery Theatre Stewart promises to deliver once again.
Originally seen for three seasons in New York and in London in 1993 at
the Old Vic A Christmas Carol won Patrick Stewart an Olivier Award for Best
Entertainment and a Best Actor Drama Desk Award. Hardly surprising when
you consider using just a few props Stewart portrays every character in
the story including Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Marley, Fezziwig and, of course,
the world’s most famous curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge, yet still manages to
conjure up the full world of the beloved classic.
Stewart’s credits include Moby Dick, X-Men, X2 and Captain Picard in
both the Star Trek films and television series.
A Christmas Carol will run from December 6 through to December 31 at
London’s Albery Theatre. For further information contact the Albery Theatre
Box Office on 0870 950 0920 or online at
www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk.
GIG REVIEW
Martha Wainwright Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
By Richard Purden
The perpetually-touring little sister of Rufus and daughter of Loudon
and Kate McGarrigle is holding her own.
Opening with the haunting I Will Internalise Martha sounds like a cross
between Courtney Love and Tammy Wynette complete with strung out panda eyes
and fishnets. GPT had the feel of a lost Bowie anthem from the early ’70s
— “Catch a feel or cop a ride,” she yelled.
Well maybe not in reserved Edinburgh dear.
Ephemeral and wistful is what Martha does best Factory is reminiscent
of the gravel and whiskey voiced Stevie Nicks.
The combination of her enchanting playing, wailing voice and edgy lyrics
has the crowd in her palm and when things get a little ramshackle they don’t
seem to mind. In fact it seems part of the act.
There’s a strange dynamic between Martha and butch/camp bassist Brad
who’s sporting a moustache and a bald eagle on each breast pocket of his
cowboy shirt. As she howls into the mike, there’s an almost “oh please”
look from Brad who seems concerned with the sound half the time.
The varied set throws up some rousing covers; she sounds sweet and country
with a tinge of innocent on Warren Zevons’ I Was In The House When The House
Burned Down and Leonard Cohen’s Tower Of Song is sublime.
Despite the number of covers there’s no doubt Martha can write. Far Away
swims with melodies and melancholy, the epic, This Life is never-ending
musical bliss. Bring Back My Heart is a duet usually performed with Rufus
but as he’s busy her cousin fills in and the rich voices seem to melt into
each other.
For the closing encore is Dis, Quand Reviendras-Tu? It’s like being at
a Wainwright family sing-song. Martha leaves the stage in tears and we know
it’s over; well it is in her blood after all.
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