This lavish production has a complete dodgem rink with half dozen working cars, and various fairground-style set items. The dancers perform on the rink, downstage and in a constructed area above the stage. Most of the show is a sequence of separate sketches, many of them on the theme of diversity, both ethnic and disability-related.

While many of the sketches work well on their own – and hold the audience's attention effectively - the connection between them rarely moves beyond the broad theme of diversity and attitudes to outsiders. But such is the level of spectacle that the lack of integration between the various parts of the show doesn't stop it being enjoyable.

Memorable comedy moments include the tirade by a dancer without legs against the audience for seeing him as different – because he is English. Or the black male performer in an Irish dancing dress and blonde curly wig, describing burqa-wearing habits in the West of Ireland, a part of the world not known for such garments.

More poignant moments include the story of a painfully shy Irish girl who pretends to be deaf because she finds it easier to use sign language – and then falls in love with a middle-aged Polish migrant worker. Or a gradually building story of what seems to be a fictional jihadi terrorist bomber in a Irish city, which turns out to be simply one of a Muslim woman using a remote-control toy car.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Piotr Baumann. Jason E Bernard. Simon Choplain. Lee Clayden. Amanda Coogan. Unita Gay Galiluyo. Geir Hytten. Mónica Munoz Marín. Emma O'Kane. Diane O'Keeffe. Mark O'Regan. David Toole. Shauna Harris - Little Girl. Karla Ong. Elizabeth Ozyuianuina. David Carmody - musician. Ellen Cranitch - musician. Simone Mendonca - musician. Stav Dvorkin. Vanessa Manung. Grelor Mgadi.

Company Credits: Director/Choreographer - David Bolger. Writer - Charlie O'Neill. Original Music - Ellen Cranitch. Set Design - Paul O'Mahony. Lighting Design - John Comiskey. Costume Design - Kathy Strachen. Sound Design - Alexis Nealon. Rehearsal Director - Muirne Bloomer. Casting - Maureen Hughes & Lorraine Barry. Voice Coach - Cathal Quinn. Production Manager - Rob Furey. Stage Director - Mags Mulvey. Stage Manager - Stephanie Ryan. Sound Engineer - Alexis Nealon. Chief LX - Aidan Wallace. Lighting Operator - Marcus Fitzsimons. Electrical Engineer - Joe Brennan. Dodgem Track Consultant - Mark Piper. Fire, Health and Safety - John L'Estrange, Slatteries. Riggers - Roundshire. Set Construction Company - Shadow Creations. Model Cars - Craig Starkie. Scenic Artist - Neil Carroll. Carpenter - Ian Thompson. Sound - ACTONE. Crew - Paddy Keating, Tim Burns, Audrey Rooney. Publicity - Zoetrope. CoisCéim Graphic Design - Alphabet Soup. Pre-Production Photography - Chris Nash. Production Photography - Patrick Redmond. Production Administration - Paul Carton. Producer - Jenny Traynor. Company - CoisCéim Dance Theatre & Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival.

END

(c) Colman Higgins 2008

reviewed Thursday 25 September 08 / Dublin

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2013

www.fringereport.com