STONES IN HIS POCKET: Jones, Bham Rep till 21 August, tour to 7 December.

STONES IN HIS POCKETS: Marie Jones
Birmingham Rep: till Sat 31 August, touring
Tkts (Birmingham Rep): 0121 236 4455
Runs: 2h 20m, one interval.

Review: Rod Dungate, 22 August 2002, Birmingham Rep

Witty, wittily acted, something to say a truly engaging evening.A delightfully witty and wittily acted comedy, STONES IN HIS POCKETS has just enough of something serious to say to make it a truly engaging evening.

Hollywood film, The Quiet Valley, is in production in Co. Kerry, all beautiful scenery and cows (though the film's director is concerned the cows don't look Irish enough.) Charlie and Jake, two Irishmen, are extras in the film, together with as many of the other locals as can get the work: we note, though, that the daily rate is only £40 meagre enough. As Charlie and Jake chat, drink, act we meet many of the other characters involved in the making of the film star, Caroline Giovanni, director, Clem Curtis, drug addict, Sean Harkin, production assistant, Aisling to name but a few. Marie Jones's great theatrical coup is that all the roles are played by Charlie (Malcolm Adams) and Jake (Hugh Lee).

Her inventiveness offers wonderful and often outrageous acting opportunities for the two men who, in turn, reveal a rich vein of humour. Both Adams and Lee are wicked and perceptive in their character creations.

More than a romp though, Jones is looking at a serious issue which is encapsulated in the tension between the two main characters. Charlie lost his livelihood when his video shop had to close competition from the chains was too great. Charlie writes his own script and sees this job as a way in to the industry. Jake has returned from the US after his American dream went sour: star Caroline falls for him, but he feels used by her and increasingly by the film company.

Is the film industry, is the historical romanticisation of Ireland merely raping the country, holding out false hopes, holding it back? Jones asks in her play. The point is driven home in an hilarious Irish Dance sequence where the film company literally has the men dancing to their tune.

Jones concludes her play with the two men deciding to make their own film called Stones In His Pocket. This is less a ray of hope than the play being uncomfortably self-reverential. A small price to pay, though, for a delightful experience it's all in the acting!

Charlie Conlon: Malcolm Adams
Jake Quinn: Hugh Lee

Director: Ian McElhinney
Assistant Director: Hugh Borthwick
Design: Jack Kirwan
Lighting: James C McFetridge
Original Staging of Irish Dance Sequence: Sean Campion and Conleth HIll

2002-08-23 15:25:33