Fringe benefits

Last time round we previewed the Dublin Theatre Festival but, of course, of equal importance is the Dublin Fringe Festival. Particularly under the directorship of Ali Curren who has expanded the festival to a previously unimaginable degree over the past three years and soon will be moving to her new position as artistic director of the Peacock. But what a Festival she’s arranged as her swan song.

In a Festival that runs from Monday 24th September to Saturday 13th October there are no less than 65 different events. Which also translates into 300 different performances! That spread across the whole spectrum of theatre, comedy, dance and the visual arts – with film, in particular, being one of the innovative developments pushed to the fore by Curren and her crew.

Can I cram a mention of 65 events into this column? You know I can’t. But I can look at some personal highlights.

Some people may be overdosing on Beckett at the moment – with the recent screening of his works on TV and the undeniably unmissable performance John Hurt is delivering in Krapp’s Last Tape at the Gate right now – but it’s already been said of Conor Lovett that he could become “the definitive Beckett actor.” He’s performing The Beckett Trilogy which focus on Beckett’s novels, Molloy, Malone Dies and The Unnameable.

Trainspotting, of course, needs no introduction but the stage production by the Common Currency Company claims to be “more hard hitting than the film.” Similar in tone, perhaps, will be Stuck, written by David Rubinoff and presented by the acclaimed Rattlebag Theatre Company. It tells the tale of a 20-something would be actor who sets out on a journey of sex, drugs and cash.” The same trail that, no doubt, is followed by the protagonist of How I Failed To Become a Pop Star, which tells us how one particular singer-songwriter got as far as the day of the release of his first record. And no further? Let’s wait and see.

Meanwhile Red Kettle, another of Ireland’s most acclaimed theatre companies, presents The Queen And Peacock, about a “group of Irish lads sitting in run down gay bar in Brixton talking of home” and, seemingly, exploring many reasons why they can’t or won’t return to Dublin which is described as “the sexiest city in Europe.” Declan Gorman, however, though setting his latest play, Epic, in contemporary times, claims it features “echoes of the ancient Celtic myths of the Tain Bo Cualigne with “several stories of modern Ireland interweaving.”

The Lottery Ticket, on the other hand, is a play that looks at the lives of the HewHaw family who “despite the Celtic Tiger are starving to death.” It’s a Swiftian satire that has been described as “one of the finest stage works in the Flann O’Brien tradition to hit Edinburgh.” As in the Edinburgh Theatre Festival.

Equally as irreverent, is The Peter Pan Company who present a play about “not giving a shit, a performance about singing and dancing the truth.’ What’s it called? Defloweredfucked. Sounds like much the same way you’d feel after months on the audition trail, and failing. That is the theme of Kevin McGee It Was 2pm in the Morning, presented by the Female Parts theatre company and following the contrasting fortunes of two female actors living in Dublin. A play not to be missed by actors, for sure.

And yet another of Ireland’s leading theatre companies – Rough Magic – present Morna Regan’s Midden, “a story of five women, from three generations, and a prodigal daughter’s return” which is set in contemporary Derry. It’s directed by Lynne Parker.

One woman, Camille O’Sullivan, however, turns up in two musical productions. Lost Song (with guest James Barry) in which they celebrate the works of “several of the 20th century’s most dramatic songwwriter of musical theatre” including Brel, Weill, Piaf, Hollander and Dietrich. She also turns up in James Barry’s Twentieth Century Coward , which, “through songs, comic scenes and sparkling repartees the performers present the many facets of Noel Coward’s true Blithe Spirit.” Actually it wasn’t a blithe spirit but the show should be fascinating, no less.

Full details on all times, dates venus and show can be had by calling 1850 374 643 or 353 1 677 3850. Also there is a website at www.fringefest.com.