Theatre 2019 – a year in review – the list

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It’s the time of year that the year’s ‘best of’ lists are popping up. I am partial to a list myself, so I decided to compile one of my theatrical excursions this year. The year 2019 has seen my attendance at more theatrical events than any other year in my life to date. I’ve been averaging a play a week Whether such intensity can be maintained in 2020 is to be seen – thus far I have only eight show booked for 2020. Without further ado may I present my review of 2019 and the reviews where I wrote them. Continue reading Theatre 2019 – a year in review – the list →

14 Henrietta Street, Dublin

Dublin, Ireland, Uncategorized, , ,

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When I receive visitors from out of town, I like to take them to a museum or a gallery. Ideally I’d visit Kilmainham Gaol, but this tends to get booked months in advance due to the limited capacity and widespread popularity of the guided tour. When I checked availability for Kilmainham this weekend all tours were fully booked. I had an idea. I would check availability for a guided tour of the 14 Henrietta Street Museum. There was space on the tour so we selected the 2pm Saturday slot. Continue reading 14 Henrietta Street, Dublin →

Theatrical: ‘A Christmas carol’ at the Gate

Theatre, Uncategorized, , ,

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year at the theatre. When the aim of the show playing is not to educate the public, or to revolutionise the theatrical artform, but instead to please the masses with accessible, entertaining shows. Attending the theatre as often as I do, has shortened by patience for ‘brave’ or ‘groundbreaking’ works – despite the best intentions the results can be very lacklustre. Not so the Christmas shows – these tend to be long running productions that are required to appeal to a wide audience for extended runs. And to set the playhouse up with a healthy budget for the year ahead, no doubt? Having been impressed with the hilarious ‘Drama at Inish’ in the Abbey a few weeks ago, my expectations of the Dickens’ seasonal classic ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Gate were high. Continue reading Theatrical: ‘A Christmas carol’ at the Gate →

Dara Murphy – another Fine Gael hog with his snout in the trough.

Ireland, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

I have written before about the Fine Gael Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy who has overseen the explosion of the homelessness crisis into a national catastrophe (read about him HERE). I’ve also written about the culture of greed and entitlement by elected Fine Gael politician Maria Bailey who upon receipt of legal advice by Minister for Culture Josepha Madigan, tried to fraudulently claim insurance from a hotel when she drunkenly fell off a swing while holding two bottles of booze in her hands (read about her HERE).

Now it is time to focus our attention on an even worse example of corruption in the Fine Gael party – an individual from the Cork North-Central constituency called Dara Murphy, who has spent the last several years with his  snout in the trough of taxpayers’ money with the knowledge and approval of his party and its leader Leo Varadkar. He is the human manifestation of a pig from George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. Continue reading Dara Murphy – another Fine Gael hog with his snout in the trough. →

Brief encounter at Limerick Junction

Limerick, Travel, Uncategorized

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‘Brief Encounter’ – the 1945 British film directed by David Lean is often cited as one of the most romantic films of all time. Based on the play ‘Still Life’ by Noel Coward, it tells the tale of an extra-marital affair between two middle-aged people, whose relationship is played out in stolen moments at a train station. Continue reading Brief encounter at Limerick Junction →

‘Cornucopia’ – under the sea with Bjork

Music, Uncategorized,

Bjork

The Bjork concert at the Point Depot last night was quite unlike any gig I have ever been to. On the way in to the vast arena (which currently styles itself as the 3Arena) I had no idea what to expect. My companion had warned me that there was no support act and that apparently the show (which is called ‘Cornucopia’) would start on time at 8pm. Glancing around I could guess that most of the audience was – like myself – of a mid-season vintage. We took our seats in block H which is located slightly to the left of the stage and waited. Continue reading ‘Cornucopia’ – under the sea with Bjork →

Theatrical: ‘Class’ the play is a class play

Theatre, Uncategorized

class

The play ‘Class’ by Iseult Golden and David Horan was first performed in the Civic Theatre in Tallaght as part of the 2017 Dublin Theatre Festival. In early 2018 it transferred to the Peacock in Abbey for a further run. I had wanted to see it here but it was fully sold out. Later that year it wowed audiences at the Edinburgh Festival. Roll on to 2019, and the play toured to Cardiff and London, before touring Ireland for the month of November. In other words it’s a smash hit. Last night was the final night of this incarnation of the work, back where is all began at the Civic in Tallaght. I had a ticket. My anticipation was high. Continue reading Theatrical: ‘Class’ the play is a class play →

Theatrical: ‘Drama at Inish’

Theatre, Uncategorized, , ,

inish

The Abbey Theatre can be a magical place. Ireland’s national theatre has been my theatre of choice this year. In part because of its close proximity to my house. In part because of its ingenious scheme of offering free of charge first preview performances, many of which I have availed myself. In part because I feel like it belongs to the people of Dublin – being state funded. As a result I see almost everything that is staged at this playhouse. Last night I went to see ‘Drama at Inish’ – the tenth show I have seen on the main stage this year (along with a further six productions on the smaller Peacock Stage’.) Continue reading Theatrical: ‘Drama at Inish’ →

Theatrical: ‘9 to 5’

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din

The film ‘9 to 5’ from 1980 was about three working women in a 1980s American office as they struggle with the pressures of career, and a sleazy, sex-offender boss. Starring Jane Fonda; Lily Tomlin and the queen of everything Dolly Parton, it was a runaway hit. Being a multi-talented kind of gal, our Dolly turned the premise into a Broadway musical which transferred to the West End this year. It is currently on a tour of the UK and Ireland. This week it is playing in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin. Having been a deranged fan (I mean loyal appreciator) of Ms Parton for decades, I naturally bought a ticket. Continue reading Theatrical: ‘9 to 5’ →