| Theatre and Gig Reviews THEATRE
REVIEW
Shoot the Crow
By Amanda Diamond
You work hard all your life and then you die. In a nutshell this is the
message conveyed by Owen McCafferty’s new play Shoot The Crow.
Currently showing at the Trafalgar Studios in London it tells the tale
of four Belfast tilers who pair off and plan to steal the same pallet of
tiles.
As the heist goes belly-up great confusion ensues lending itself to some
comedic shenanigans and hilarious verbal exchanges.
Through the heist we discover more about the characters and their hopes
and their aspirations. But it all seems a little shallow.
There was a hope that a McCafferty play — with his reputation as a brilliant
new Irish dramatist — would have something new and insightful to say.
But Shoot The Crow delivers nothing new. In fact it falls a little flat.
There is no great wisdom or insight here and it certainly fails to set
the audience on fire.
Perhaps what is most notable about Shoot The Crow is the top actors it
has attracted to star in it.
James Nesbitt plays the pensive Socrates while Jim Norton is the old
Ding-Ding working his final day before retirement.
Unfortunately Nesbitt fails to convince as the pontificating Socrates
but this is perhaps more to do with a badly-written part than his ability
to deliver as an actor.
And the brilliant Jim Norton also seems somewhat at odds with his part.
Conleth Hill gives the best performance of the play through his beefy
gaffer Petesy while Packy Lee is excellent as the young and naive Randolph
saving up for a motorbike.
The lack of depth to both storyline and characters in Shoot The Crow
is disappointing to say the least.
Although the play speeds along with relentless banter and quirky quips
you find yourself leaving the auditorium a little disenchanted with what
you have just seen.
Shoot The Crow is undoubtedly a fun night out but if you are looking
to see something a bit more challenging you may want to stay in and watch
a BBC Four documentary.
Starring James Nesbitt, Conleth Hill and James Norton.
Currently running at Trafalgar Studios, off Trafalgar Square in London
until early December. For performance and ticket information call 0870 060
6632.
THEATRE PREVIEW
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
By Grainne McLoughlin
“To be or not to be, that is the question.” But to go or not to go, should
never be posed as a question. Because Hamlet is without doubt one of Shakespeare
most celebrated plays — a must for anyone who simply enjoys being entertained.
It has all the ingredients and more to make a truly great story. Hamlet
has a prince, a philosopher, avenger, killer and lover amongst others.
And with Patrick O’ Kane — whose credits include Waking The Dead, Eastenders
and Owen McCafferty’s Scenes From The Big Picture — starring in the title
role it just gets better.
The basic plot: You’re a prince, summoned home from university when your
father dies. Your mother marries your uncle with indecent haste. Your country
is under threat and your new stepfather steals your throne. Your girlfriend’s
family want her to stay away from you. Then your father’s ghost tells you
that your uncle murdered him. What’s your next move?
The suspense speaks for itself. And in the first collaboration of its
kind between the Lyric Theatre in Belfast and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin,
the production is set to be performed in both.
Starring: Patrick O' Kane.
Directed by Conall Morrison.
Hamlet runs from October 26 until November 17. For further information
on venues and times, contact
www.lyrictheatre.co.uk.
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