+565 Review
By Darragh Doyle
I would love to meet Marie O'Rourke's doctor. Any doctor who'd advise theatre as a therapy is okay in my book.
565+ is an interesting premise. Marie O' Rourke, a school teacher living in Bray takes the stage to share her love of theatre and why she's seen over 565 plays in the last seven years. I sat in the Cube at Project Arts Centre, notepad on lap taking notes and at one stage scribbled "I really want Marie not to be a character, I want her to be REAL" because she seems like a lovely person, someone with natural flair who sits well in front of a crowd - or a classroom.
I've experienced Director Úna McKevitt's work before - Victor and Gord was a highlight of last year's Absolut Fringe for many and the most recent version at the Kilkenny Arts Festival was a delight. Úna seems to value real life, real people and exposition of what really motivates people on stage and she does it in a distinctive, intimate and sometimes disconcerting way.
I was at the opening night last night - it's important to note that for the rest of my review. The play is Marie's story about why she's been to the theatre so much in the last seven years. Emotional, interesting and engaging, there's a lovely concept here.
565+ made me think "If I was put on stage, how would I act? What would I tell people about?" and at times the simplicity of the set - chair, desk, piano - and the transition between scenes or stories made me think of plays I'd have put on with my little sister at home. Marie has a talent in telling a story - the image of polishing the floor was particulary lovely and her own talking style - her choice of words, of expressions - all endeared her to me. Simple statements were often disarming: "The Pope came to visit Ireland and we all got a bit over excited" provoked a guffaw of laughter.
There were other parts of 565+ too that have real potential. The reason Marie goes to the doctor in the front case. Her first experiences of the theatre and what she loves and hates now. Her connection to the audience - at one point she says "You have to have a very honest relationship with 10 year olds, else it doesn't work" and that, for me, became the great part of the play. Marie is the school teacher you loved in primary school - the one who told the best stories.
That's why, perhaps, despite the above, 565+ in its present form just didn't work for me. Every story has a start, middle and end but 565+ jumped (fell?) between the cracks and the resulting piece was a bit all over the place. We were brought high too quickly with Marie's enthusiasm and then dropped very low with the harsher stories. It was a bit too disconnected for me.
There were gaps in the narrative that seem less like a theatrical device than an ommitance. If the story was put more in order, the relationship between Duncan, the Stage Manager and Marie explained earlier - and, strangely - if Marie had explained how this came to be a piece at all, it would, in my opinion, have created a much better play. Marie was very brave to give the performance and this should be appreciated.
As it is, I'd love to see 565+ again when it's had a bit more time to mature, to settle, to get organised. I notice it's already been through "many tweaks, changes and running order rearranges" which is great to see. There's a great concept there and the necessary structure the play requires is attainable, with a bit more work. There's story to be told here, but it could be told in a slightly different way. Like a story you'd tell a 10 year old.
Darragh is Communications Manager of Boards.ie, entertainment and events blogger in Ireland.
+565 runs at Project Arts Centre Sept 28 - Oct 3.
Book tickets for +565
I would love to meet Marie O'Rourke's doctor. Any doctor who'd advise theatre as a therapy is okay in my book.
565+ is an interesting premise. Marie O' Rourke, a school teacher living in Bray takes the stage to share her love of theatre and why she's seen over 565 plays in the last seven years. I sat in the Cube at Project Arts Centre, notepad on lap taking notes and at one stage scribbled "I really want Marie not to be a character, I want her to be REAL" because she seems like a lovely person, someone with natural flair who sits well in front of a crowd - or a classroom.
I've experienced Director Úna McKevitt's work before - Victor and Gord was a highlight of last year's Absolut Fringe for many and the most recent version at the Kilkenny Arts Festival was a delight. Úna seems to value real life, real people and exposition of what really motivates people on stage and she does it in a distinctive, intimate and sometimes disconcerting way.
I was at the opening night last night - it's important to note that for the rest of my review. The play is Marie's story about why she's been to the theatre so much in the last seven years. Emotional, interesting and engaging, there's a lovely concept here.
565+ made me think "If I was put on stage, how would I act? What would I tell people about?" and at times the simplicity of the set - chair, desk, piano - and the transition between scenes or stories made me think of plays I'd have put on with my little sister at home. Marie has a talent in telling a story - the image of polishing the floor was particulary lovely and her own talking style - her choice of words, of expressions - all endeared her to me. Simple statements were often disarming: "The Pope came to visit Ireland and we all got a bit over excited" provoked a guffaw of laughter.
There were other parts of 565+ too that have real potential. The reason Marie goes to the doctor in the front case. Her first experiences of the theatre and what she loves and hates now. Her connection to the audience - at one point she says "You have to have a very honest relationship with 10 year olds, else it doesn't work" and that, for me, became the great part of the play. Marie is the school teacher you loved in primary school - the one who told the best stories.
That's why, perhaps, despite the above, 565+ in its present form just didn't work for me. Every story has a start, middle and end but 565+ jumped (fell?) between the cracks and the resulting piece was a bit all over the place. We were brought high too quickly with Marie's enthusiasm and then dropped very low with the harsher stories. It was a bit too disconnected for me.
There were gaps in the narrative that seem less like a theatrical device than an ommitance. If the story was put more in order, the relationship between Duncan, the Stage Manager and Marie explained earlier - and, strangely - if Marie had explained how this came to be a piece at all, it would, in my opinion, have created a much better play. Marie was very brave to give the performance and this should be appreciated.
As it is, I'd love to see 565+ again when it's had a bit more time to mature, to settle, to get organised. I notice it's already been through "many tweaks, changes and running order rearranges" which is great to see. There's a great concept there and the necessary structure the play requires is attainable, with a bit more work. There's story to be told here, but it could be told in a slightly different way. Like a story you'd tell a 10 year old.
Darragh is Communications Manager of Boards.ie, entertainment and events blogger in Ireland.
+565 runs at Project Arts Centre Sept 28 - Oct 3.
Book tickets for +565
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