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drinks Monday 2 June 08
DUBLIN ... Colman Higgins describes the scope and history of Dublin Gay Theatre Festival ... and reviews two of its shows ... Down Dangerous Passes Road ... Confessions of A Mormon Boy /// LONDON ... film on now ... La Question Humaine / Heartbeat Detector /// BRIGHTON ... It's on till 26 May and here's at least 20 Things you might want to know about Brighton Fringe /// PEOPLE ... Who was there at Fringe Report's First Monday 5 May - photographs & article /// CULTURE ... One Culture ... film screening 30 May booking now ... details
The Masterpiece
Verdict: Concentration camp drama with twist
Dublin 05 – Mountjoy Prison – 26 Sept to 1 Oct 05 – 20.30 (22.00)
The Masterpiece is about a painter, Gustav, who is given a task by his German concentration camp commander. He has to paint a masterpiece - otherwise he and his family will die.
The irony of the theme is that the play is actually staged in Mountjoy Prison, one of the oldest and least congenial jails in Ireland – and all the actors are themselves prisoners. The audience waits by the visitor’s centre, before being ushered in the main gates of the Victorian complex. The door bangs shut.
A play is staged for prisoners and relatives each year both here and 50 miles away in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise. The first Mountjoy Prison shows were staged in the 1980s. Three of the main actors in the play (playing Gustav, Vogts and Franz) staged it in Midlands Prison first, then entered it for this year’s Dublin Fringe, with some Mountjoy actors joining in. It’s the first time a prison play has been part of a mainstream theatre festival.
All the actors are prisoners. The director comes from outside. The production crew are a combination of outsiders, prisoners and prison officers (prefixed by ‘Officer’ in the company credits below).
The script and story are by Midlands Prison actor Stephen McNamara and outside producer Neville Thompson. Apart from using the fact that the Nazis used to keep talented prisoners for their entertainment, the play is entirely original – including the satisfying and almost metaphysical twist at the end.
The casual brutality of the guards is very real. The main relationship, between Gustav (Stephen McNamara) and camp commander Vogts (Degalan Leavery), is vividly brought to life - particularly the terror and confusion felt by Gustav. And Vogts has a human face - as he reveals the traumas that have made him cold.
The fact that the actors are prisoners lends an extra dimension to their roles in a play set among the most brutal prisons of the 20th Century. The Masterpiece would be an excellent show in any ordinary theatre. Given the background it comes from, it’s a triumph.
Cast Credits: (alpha order): Donnall Creamer - Soldier 1. Debbie Hannon - Betina. Degalan Leavery - Vogts. Alan Lyons - Soldier 2. Stephen McNamara - Gustav. Barry O’Mahoney - Franz.
Company Credits: Writers - Stephen McNamara & Neville Thompson. Director – Mabel Troy. Producer – Neville Thompson. Production Manager, Props and MC – Officer John Dooley. Stage Managers – Mary Flynn, Gary Hayes. Stage Team – Gary Hayes, Jason Larkin. Make up – Louise Lowe, Stephanie Dunne, Nichola Whelan. Wardrobe – Yesteryear, North Frederick St, Silken Thomas Players, Kildare Town. Set Design – Mabel Troy. Lighting Design – Mabel Troy, Officer Paul Roche, Stephen Doyle. Programme Cover – Officers Paul Roche and JD Corcoran. Music composed by – Larry Carolan / Graeme Turnbull. Sound – Officer Paul Roche. Lighting Operator – Stephen Doyle. Set Construction – Mark Costello, Kenny Murray. Set Artists – Kenny Murray, Jason Larkin. Production Team – John Dooley, JD Corcoran, Paul Roche, Sinead McSweeney, Conor Murtagh, Simon Duffy, Shane Kelly, Jennifer Lennon, Mick O’Mahoney, Mick Nolan and Robbie Gillespie. Woodworking – Mick Byrne. House Keeping – Donough O’Briain, Kenny Murray. Company - Mountjoy Theatre in association with MAD Productions
END
(c) Colman Higgins 2005
reviewed 27 September 05 / Mountjoy Prison
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
