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Humanity shines through dark days
Bessie Burgess (Gabrielle Reidy), left, Nora (Kelly Campbell) and Fluther Good (Joe Hanley) in The Plough and the Stars Pictures: Ros Kavanagh The Plough
and the Stars Birmingham
Rep The Old
Rep, Birmingham *****
TENEMENT life is all about the people who live within the buildings and
this Sean O'Casey play highlights the impact of the Easter Rising in
1916 on a group of working class men and women living in Dublin.
The community of the building is a richly diverse and characterful one. The garrulous Mrs. Gogon (Deirdre Molloy) bustles about with much to say about the ‘billing and cooing' of a young couple Nora and Jack Clitheroe (Kelly Campbell and Barry Ward). Then there is
Peter Flynn (Frankie McCafferty)
in his flamboyant uniform, the Communist young Covey (Laurence Kinlan)
who constantly seems to torment him, and the whiskey loving Fluther Good
(Joe hanley) are an excellent trio who provide a range of male
perspectives on life. Nora aspires to a better life
and a family; her dreams are shattered when Jack is promoted to the rank
of commandant of the Irish Citizen Army and he leaves to take part in
the rebellion. We meet Bessie Burgess
(Gabrielle Reidy) whose respect for the Union flag and sniping reminders
of tragic events in the trenches seems to set her apart from the others,
while prostitute Rosie Redmond (Kate Brennan) who inhabits the bar and
the consumptive Mollsey (Roxanna Nic Liam) ably remind us of the impacts
of poverty and poor housing. These tenement dwellers are scraping a
living together in a bleak environment.
The crumbling building, the
bar and the costumes are stark, dark and grey but the language of this
play provides the colour. The contrast between the lives and everyday
heroism of the tenement dwellers and the nationalists and their leaders
is remarkably symbolised. Flags are raised and lowered
and the Figure in the Window (Karl Quinn) actually marches across the
bar to deliver rhetoric. Although we do not see much of the violence,
the play acknowledges the differing ideologies through overlapping
plots. The fate of Jack and others who actually take part in the
Uprising is juxtaposed with the argumentative, flirtatious and
chattering tenement denizens who merely pause to listen to the speeches. The original performance of
the play in 1926 did not sit easily with audiences in Dublin who rioted
to demonstrate their disapproval. It may not sit easily with you; the
variety of characters may reinforce the fact that the British had
greater numbers, artillery and proper training. Fluther's banter brings
humour to the darkest of situations yet the course of events shows his
compassionate side. Nora's tragic descent into madness after losing a
baby as well as her love is at the heart of the play but, above all,
superb acting and O'Casey's script highlight the support and care that
were/are part and parcel of tenement life. Despite the shelling and the
rioting in the background, the situation brings out the best in Bessie
as the community pull together to cope with the aftermath of the revolt
and the presence of British tommies in their lives. This Abbey Theatre production
was directed by Wayne Jordan with set design by Tom Piper and is marked
by some wonderful acting. Tragic, heartbreaking and humorous - it will
make you think! Laura Ginesi
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