THE SEAFARER To 27 June.
Bolton.
THE SEAFARER
by Conor McPherson.
Octagon Theatre To 27 June 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 17, 27 June 2pm.
Audio-described: 24 June.
Captioned 25 June.
Runs: 2hr 20min One interval.
TICKETS: 01204 520661.
www.octagonbolton.co.uk
Review: Stoon 10 June 2009
The perfect Christmas anti-drink campaign.
Set on Christmas Eve in an Irish costal town The Seafarer opens with Sharky on morning duty clearing-up the night before’s excesses. He’s joined by blind sibling Richard nursing a hangover and no desire to show brotherly love – cantankerous, boss, a know-it-all who needs waiting-on hand, foot and whiskey glass.
Then there’s mutual friend Ivan who crashed out and worse for wear. Ivan and Richard soon get into the spirit of things though, swigging leftover dregs. Sharky’s enduring tolerance finally snaps when Richard instructs him to set an extra place for Christmas Dinner.
Richard’s thoughtfully extended an open invitation to old Nicky. Not the Devil himself, but a close contender as Nicky’s living with Sharky’s ex. Nicky calls round, accompanied by the mysterious Mr Lockhart, a striking stranger with a strong hint of An Inspector Calls.
For large parts it’s a bit steely and uninvolving – the dialogue’s authentically laced with expletives and tipsy laddish teasing and there’s visual humour present, but it needs more zip. Things perk up in Act Two when the card games start and the characters start to gel.
Performances are strong, Peter Dineen especially lending Richard a real streak of the wrong stuff. Brendan Charleson makes Ivan likeable, with the gentlest disposition of all. Sharky (Michael O’Connor) seems saintly in putting up with his brother, and like a man with a past. Fintan McKeown feels a bit of a square peg when introduced as Nicky’s (Leigh Symonds) friend. The ensemble scenes are always more fun than the solo reflections.
It’s a play which resonates in the mind – possibly gaining greater acceptance after viewing as it’s a personal piece (writer Conor McPherson’s a recovering alcoholic). The underlying demon that is drink is present in spirit but not in full destructive wrath.
Two years ago, Babych wrote in the Octagon’s 40th Anniversary program “What keeps me here is the overwhelming feeling that this theatre belongs to Bolton and that it somehow matters’ – he’s right on both counts, though his own modesty understates the latter as on its day, the Octagon is a match for any regional producing theatre.
Ivan Curry: Brendan Charleson.
Richard Harkin: Peter Dineen.
Mr Lockhart: Fintan McKeown.
James 'Sharky' Harkin: Michael O'Connor.
Nicky Giblin: Leigh Symonds.
Director: Mark Babych.
Designer: Patrick Connellan.
Lighting: Tom Dexter Scott.
Sound: Andy Smith.
Dialect coach: Sally Hague.
Fight director: Kate Waters.
Assistant director: Kieran Lagan.
2009-06-14 23:35:40