A GLIMPSE of smuggled soda cake and cabbages for those immured by Limerick Soviet; Dev’s photo sewn into the making of British army uniforms; a taunt of “sepia tinted glasses”; a place where not to be an All Black and certainly not immigrant Jew. This is this town, ‘Pigtown’, playwright Mike Finn’s telescoping of Limerick’s 20th Century in to an affectionate and shrewd portrait of the inner city.
Opening night under Paul Brennan’s direction on Thursday 7 packed out for a show with experienced amateurs, some newcomers and the professional lead of John Anthony Murphy as central link, Tommy Clocks. An actor and director known for firepower, his Clocks was gently aged, an knowing observer who is romantic and conflicted, a good man who loves his town passionately.
Murphy, coincidentally or not, was cofounder of Island Theatre Company with Finn, which platformed ‘Pigtown’ as an award winning show 13 years ago. Prior to the current run in Belltable Arts Centre until June 23, Arts page heard his hopes for the part made great by Brendan Conroy: “We all want to do justice to people who first saw ‘Pigtown’. Yet you can’t allow yourself to be afraid to try to repeat what went before. There is an adjustment to what works for yourself as an actor, hearing the rhythms of the play and actor that will work it out. Monologues are such a part of this iconic play.
“’Pigtown’ is now a new beast, otherwise why do anything more than once?”
A stage of simple frames was compact for the 17-strong cast, several of whom doubled up. Tim Evans, Darren Maher, Ger Treacy, John Collins toughed up to the mix; Deirdre Flynn as Mrs Sheehan and Meave O’Donovan as Mary gave individuality to wife and sweetheart roles.
Paul Brennan, who has directed several works by Mike Finn’s, keeps a necessary strong hand over the sprawling city, characters and decades. Limerick’s interest in this show, its revival a decade after three previous airings, remains avid. As co-producer Gerry Barnes commented, “’Pigtown’ is as fresh and vital as the night Mike Finn wrote it”.
Book on 061-31986 for 8pm until Saturday 23.
At the White House launch for this Belltable Community Theatre Project (l-r) Jay Red, Tommy Hourston, Deirdre Flynn, Mike Finn, Darren Maher. Picture: Paul Mullins.
