A look at rural Ireland in a very comedic way! (Stones In His Pockets)

Member Name: kirsty_tinx

Product:	Stones In His Pockets
Date:	06/03/09 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The acting, multi-roling, humour and poignancy.

Disadvantages: It's on tour so I can't go see it again!

I'm so happy I found this and can review it!

I saw Stones in his Pockets a few nights ago, as it is currently on tour around the UK. I saw it at 'The Radlett Centre' in Radlett, as it was only there for one night and it is very close to me. However, the tour continues throughout the country until May I believe.

The Sunday Times has said Stones in his Pockets is 'Sad, hilarious and irresistible' and I must say, I agree.

Being a Drama student I see quite a few plays, but this has really been a stand out one for me.

Set in a rural part of Ireland, County Kerry, we see how a small town is transformed by the arrival of a Hollywood film crew, shooting a big budget film, and using the locals as extras. Being paid £40 a day is a pretty big deal to these people, who generally appear to rely on farming as their income. So when this high budget film comes to town, everybody wants in on the action.

I know it doesn't sound the most interesting play, and at first I was slightly dubious. However, the most important and fascinating thing about this show is that all of the characters are performed by just two actors. Both actors have their main character each, but also manage to cleverly and believably portray 12 other characters between them. It really is fantastic.

Throughout the play there are many stereotypes which make the play all the more amusing. It plays up to the idea of the Irish drinking a lot, using different characters, and contrasts with 'Hollywood Actors' to show this. I also liked the fact that the play focuses on the extras and their lives rather than those of the actors, as it makes it more interesting to see how somebody else's fame and fortune can cause misery to another's life.

This play has a large mixture of both happy and sad moments. There is humour throughout, which makes the play appealing to everybody; however it is fairly poignant in places, and shows a darker side of Hollywood and changes in society.

The way in which only two actors manage to portray so many different characters is fascinating. I never expected it to be as clear as it was. As a friend of mine said, you almost expected 14 different actors to come onstage to bow at the end, as you genuinely believe there are more people than there are. The two actors which featured in the performance I saw were David Caves and Jack Reynolds. The range of accents which these two managed to pull off was astounding. They range from Irish to Scottish to American. Each accent is distinct, and there is never a sign of them struggling to change character. As both the actors are men, it is amusing to find that they both have to play women in the play! A usual technique would be ridiculous exaggeration and make-up. Not this time. These actors have no changes in costumes, no time to change anything except their movement, expression and voices, but despite this their changes in characters and distinct and pretty incredible. Changing between old grumpy men, children, women, locals and American directors and film stars looks like an incredibly challenging job, however I think it was done amazingly, and as I have heard, is every time it is performed.

Everything is mimed, and there is almost no set, with a chest being used for almost everything such as a bed, a table, a bar and more. The way it is used in so many different ways is very effective. The set consists of a large chest, a smaller box and two chairs as the main basics. The chest contains clothes, which they change very rarely, just to show when they are acting in the film, and when they are being normal people.

This play was written and first performed in the late 1990's. Despite this when watching you can see the relevance to the world now, and the way in which things change. I like the fact that is shows a darker side of fame and fortune in various places, but that it also shows the hope that people can have, and leaves you with a happy, hopeful message rather than leaving you depressed. Although when watching something so humorous, it would be difficult to come out upset!

I could ramble about this all day, but all I really need to say is that this is definitely worth watching! There are many things I want to say, but I don't want to ruin the story, just in case! Even if you are someone who thinks theatre is not for you, I would personally challenge you not to enjoy this. There is something for everyone, with humour, sadness and people doing Irish dancing! What more could you want?

Summary: An exaggerated look at Ireland, but in a good way.