Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_02_20/GA_20022003_E1_039.pdf 

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Reviews:

Antigone (Storytellers Theatre Co) a n d Duchess ofMalfi (Loose C a n o n )
T W O C L A S S I C S of w o r l d t h e a t r e received major make-overs in productions on view over the past week at the Town Hall and NUIG. Conall Morrison's new adaptation of Sophocles' Antigone relocated the action to the present-day Middle East and bombarded its audience with huge black and white back-projected images of scenes from that conflict. Many of the images were undeniably powerful though at times they distracted from what was going on between the actors. More to the point, they raised the question as to just how applicable Antigone was to this Middle East setting and the conclusion had to be "not very". The intense political and personal battle of wills between the despotic Creon and his defiant niece does not quite function as an effective metaphor for the ethnic conflict between Jew and Arab. The production also added some confusing notes by having several of its characters, such as Donal Beecher's guard, sporting strong Irish regional accents. And its striving for dramatic intensity resulted in everything being played at a high emotional pitch where the cast shouted most of their lines at each other, the effect of which was ultimately somewhat wearing. Kudos however are due to Conor Linehan's music score, performed by the cast. Dramatic intensity was also the order of the day in Loose Canon's Duchess of Malfi, in NUIG as part of the Muscailt festival. This was the company's first visit to Galway, offering a welcome chance to gauge the merits of their distinctive working methods which entail months rather than weeks of rehearsals. Their Duchess is a starkly staged, stripped-back affair where

[ents J Joy to the world beyond
JOY MIGHT seem a strange title for a performance about death, but to Carol Langstaff artistic director of Flock Dance C o m p a n y , it m a k e s perfect sense. "The idea we want to evoke, is that if we embrace joy in our life we can in death as well," she says. She sees it as a way of helping on the journey, realising that the way we live our lives "and not consume' ourselves to death, after all you can't take your toys with you" can loosen the grip of fear of death. Influenced heavily by movement in nature, Carol explores flow-forms, spirals, and the way that birds move in formation. Hence the name, Flock, for her dance company. "There is a great feeling of phrase and breath that only appears in nature," she says. But she is also influenced by traditional dance from around the world and woven into her work are elements from the folk dances of Brazilians, Native Americans, English, and Irish. "Body language has a way of revealing the true nature of what we want to say," she says. "Words can be misunderstood, or lies, or cover-up. Body language is more accurate. It is also very accessible, very understandable." Her work has been described as "dream theatre" something that she agrees with wholeheatredly. "It could be your dreams up there on stage." Carol will be using some folk tales

Duchess of Malfi. the cast is reduced to five characters and the play to four acts. Lit by three bare bulbs and with low-key design, the focus is very much on the acting and Jason Byrne's cast turned in emotionally charged and forceful performances (Deirdre Roycroft especially as the Duchess). At times though they could be a little over-mannered and the production would also have benefited from less haphazard costume-design. Overall though, a strong production and it will be interesting to see what the company do with Hedda Gabler which is their next production, scheduled to open in June. CMcB

as well as the four elements Earth, Air, Fire, and Water as themes to get her ideas on death across. "We explore the different kinds of dying, "from an accidental drowning to an assisted death and the palliative care you get in a hospice where you are helped to embrace death." Carol's 10 strong company come from all over the world Germany, Spain, China, Ireland Czechoslovakia, America... They will be joined by people from the community "I've have a 73-year-old and a baby taking part," she says. Music is terribly important to Carol; "Some choreographers start with the

movement and add the music later, I prefer to work with the music." The music is an eclectic mix of traditional with avant guard and some classical thrown in for good measure. Watch also for the interesting set design. It will be as much a part of the performance as simply a space for dancing. Joy runs in The Black Box from Friday February 28 until Saturday March 1 at 8pm with a matinee performance on Saturday at 2:30pm. To book contact the box office on 091 - 569777. Micbele Viney

Hideaway

in the T w Hall on

The Lambert Puppet Theatre c o m e s to t o w n

The Lambert Puppet Theatre is coming to Galway to perform Sleeping Beauty in the Town Hall Theatre on Sunday in what promises to be a magical show for the whole family. For more information contact 091 - 569777.

THE EXODUS of Palestinians from their homeland in 1948...Two sisters who spend World War II hiding in an upstairs room... Memories that cannot be escaped is the essence of Hideaway, a new work to be performed at the Town Hall Studio on February 27 and 28. London based Quiconque Theatre Company once again returns to Galway with its powerful and poetic form of physical storytelling. Its new work. Hideaway, is a story of how a child's mind creates a picture of the world. In Hideaway all of the stories are seen from confined and dark corners where unnoticed witnesses see world events and domestic happenings. How does the real world leak into a child's hiding place? What does he/she see and understand of the events that press in on him/her from all sides? Glimpses and sounds that become powerful images: The things that help to shape a child's outlooks and ideas for the rest of his/her life. The show is a beautiful, poetic and intensely theatrical story that weaves together the diverse histories of children and young people who are in hiding. Hideaway is a highly, physical piece: The movement of the tw performers combines with the sceni landscape to create a myriad powerful ani resonant images. Quiconque was founded in 1999 and devises innovative theatre for all ages to be performed in small-scale venues. Previously known as the Theatre Lumiere, Quiconque first toured Ireland in 1999 with its adaptation of WB Yeats' The Dreaming of the Bones. On previous visits to Galway, Macnas' Helen Gregg has worked in Quiconque's productions.