MURDER IN BRIDGPORT. To 11 May.

London

MURDER IN BRIDGPORT
by Seamus Finnegan

Old Red Lion To 11 May 2002
Tue-Sun 8pm
Runs 1hr 15min No interval

TICKETS 020 7837 7816
Review Timothy Ramsden 28 April

An intriguing look at the mesh of prejudice and corruption in a U.S. Irish community.Downtown Chicago, 1920, but the blood spattering the walls isn't all from the slaughterhouse industry. In the Irish Catholic community where Finnegan places his action, fixes and favours rule lives. The boss man is O'Donohoe's Donelly, smart-suited and controlling people with brown dollar-stuffed envelopes and a punch on the face if you upset him. Witnesses and college places are fixed, easy as each other.

Go across the city and, as Janine Wood's forcefully-played Ellen - family pride guarded by a practical awareness of where social causes have to have their end – discovers, it's no Catholics or Irish wanted for work. In Bridgport the prejudice emanates from the Catholics against the Blacks. - it's only in the local brothel that differences get left at the doorstep, to satisfy the other strong male impulse.

And when the family golden boy, on whom Donelly's ambitions are also fixed, goes too far in beating one of them up – thereby giving the play its title – it takes all the fixing even in the big man's gift to ensure justice doesn't hit with a straight bat.

Meanwhile, the most obstinately principled character, Ellen's husband Jimmy, suffers for his belief in a new order – the solidarity of hierarchic church or rich-fixer politics to be replaced with the democratic one of unionised labour.

Though the often shortish scenes suggest a writer who'd be happy with cinematic editing facilities, McClymont's large cast and Finnegan's continuing revelation of the interconnectedness of this society – the parish priest kept out of the worst of it mainly out of respect, you feel – hold the interest well.

And there's a neat sting in the tail, emphasising the cycle of violence, with its long-term ironies and retributions.

Father O'Brien: John Cormack
Ellen Kelly: Janine Wood
Joe Kelly: Robin Brockway
Jimmy Doherty: Phil Underwood
Michael Kelly: Ian Coop
Pat Donelly: Kevin O'Donohoe
Sgt. Sean Regan: Glen Wallace
Ratzy: Danny Hornigold
Ma Bridie: Shenagh Govan

Director: Ken McClymont
Designer: Francesca Walford
Lighting: Alexandra Gill
Music: Martin Fisher

2002-04-29 00:31:47