by Rose Rushe
Photo: Ian Collins
THE high hopes pinned to scaffolding on set of ‘Big Beautiful Woman’, which opened last night at 36 Cecil Street, are justified. This Magic Roundabout premier got loud cheers and laughs for more than its chips & Pernod service to audience; there is much that is unexpected and clever to enjoy.
Written and directed by Darren Maher with precision, Niamh Bowen, Frances Healy and Jared Nadin are cast as players behind the sophisticated operation that is the giant Grandmere.
It’s a vibrant whimsical piece in three acts, inspired in part by Royal de Luxe’s triumphant weekend here and by Magic Roundabout’s self confessed anxieties re meeting City of Culture spec.
According to playwright Maher: “‘Big Beautiful Woman’ is many things. It’s a sentimental love letter to an event, it’s a celebration of a particular place and time, it’s an experiment, a solution, a history lecture and a bit of a bilingual, sweary, adult panto into the bargain”.
Liam O’Brien produces the show, running to Saturday 13, 8pm. Zeb Moore is production manager and string puller of puppets. Senan Moore created and cues the special effects and sound machine with brio.
Nothing about Magic Roundabout Theatre Company is dull and their ‘American Buffalo’ and ‘Spinal Krapp’ were accomplished risks. Roll up for the laughs, familiarity and sheer inventiveness of this Woman’s tale. Book on 085-2085737.
