“A lively innovative piece of writing” was praise indeed from The (mighty) Scotsman newspaper for Limerick company Tiger’s Eye Theatre’s ‘Play on Words’ at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017.
‘Play on Words’ was written by Tiger’s Niall Carmody. It booked a month at C-Venues Royale in the intense Scottish fest of 80 shows competing on any given day.
Going on the crisp vitality of their promenade staging of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at No. 1 Pery Square to fund Edinburgh, this outfit has precocious talent to support collective intellect and drive.
The cast of sisters Eleanor O’Brien and Johanna O’Brien with Patrick Flannery is directed by Shane Hickey-O’Mara in this play “where language is power and the two women are powerful because of their brilliance with language”.
No great joy however, for this Harper and Collins (geddit?) pair imprisoned in a bunker with a bucket of Scrabble letters. Set in a nightmarish world of diminished communication and civilisation, the women are tasked “to reach a quota of words. They are the only people in that society who speak English very well”.
Delivered at rapid-fire speed, “this black comedy, a strange experience” has them play games such as hangman, Scrabble tiles and try loads of different ways to inspire this episodic minting of language.
The dull guard has a shneakin’ regard for their wit and they look to intrigue him towards liberty.
Two new scenes have been created for ‘A Play on Words’ that will platform first at Limerick with what reads like a striking, playful political message. Chez le Fab, Arthur’s Quay Park, April 5, 6, 7. Booking at www.limerickfringe.com
