GO WITH, or for, your hottie to a healthy selection of performances in town over the feast of St Valentine. Directly addressing the theme of ‘It Must Be Love’, Boris Hunka’s concert will platform two great singers, Jean McGlynn and Kathleen Turner (ex Killer Cabaret girls) in a rundown of the Top 20 love songs of all time. The setting is romantic – Killaloe’s Lakeside Hotel on Saturday 16, 8pm.
We’re told that the songs have been chosen by a panel, “evaluated according to influence, sales and longevity”. Is that the formula? An impish colleague here was heard to dub such smooch as “knicker music” – that which increases your chances of a knee-trembler.
But on to reference the higher minded Hunka, he who directed the terrific ‘Lola’ show and runs Music on the Glen school: “I’d be surprised not to see some Sinatra, perhaps the Beatles and definitely some Hollywood influences. However I’d also be expecting some surprises from down the years.” Hunka’s wife, violinist Diane Daly of Irish Chamber Orchestra, with Texan bass Peter Hanagan and Boris Hunka himself on vibrafone accompany the chanteuses.
* There’s more formidable fare in David Mamet’s ‘American Buffalo’, running at Locke Bar’s Loft Venue this Thursday 14, Friday 15 and Sunday 17 at 7.30pm. Actors Stefan Barry, Darragh Maher and Ger Meaney are goons and gougers in pursuit of the rare Buffalo nickel. Magic Roundabout Theatre is directed by Zeb Moore. Wind up later at The Locke ballad session.
* Over to The Unicorn, Dooradoyle on Friday 15 for The Springsteens; excellent tribute band for The Boss’s love ballads and anthems. Remember ‘Jersey Girl’, ‘Tunnel of Love’ and ‘Thunder Road’? Nobody does it better.
* Out to Shannon’s St Caimin’s school hall for the local musical society’s take on Mel Brook’s ‘The Producers’. Pamela McGlynn, Aodán Fox and Limerick Post’s Darren Nash star nightly until Saturday February 16, 8pm.
* Roll on a week with your paramour to Lime Tree Theatre, MIC’s show ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’. This two-hander is drawing crowds in around the country for almost a year. Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21, 8pm.
* See adjacent ICO concert of classics and Sixmilebridge panto.
* and finally, Punch’s Hotel serves dinner and drinks as well as Torch Players’ latest, ‘I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Fell’. Find out what Friel was on about from Tuesday 26 to Saturday March 2, 8pm show directed by Maurice O’Sullivan.
Above: Actors Pat Kelly and Joanne O’Brien are part of a cathartic spiral in Brian Friel’s ‘I do not like thee, Dr Fell’.Actors Pat Kelly and Joanne O’Brien are part of a cathartic spiral in Brian Friel’s ‘I do not like thee, Dr Fell’.
