The ’Walk Of Life

Like all tasty recipes, the method is deceptively simple. Take three almost 30-something, intelligent and relatively affluent misfits and place them in a house in Dublin city centre. Add an ex-girlfriend or two and season with some career concerns and a healthy disdain of Celtic Tiger Ireland and you’ve got what is shaping up to be Ireland’s most successful comedy-drama series ever.

Bachelors Walk is the tale of Raymond (Don Wycherly), Michael (Simon Delaney) and Barry (Keith McErlean), three Dublin free-wheelers who inhabit the ultimate bachelor pad on the banks of the river Liffey in central Dublin. Though outwardly sorted, intelligent and charming, our heroes all have very real problems concerning work, relationships and family and these are explored during the series to often comic but also touching effect.

Raymond is the reluctant father-figure to the group, a young-fogey whose going-out-since-college girlfriend has left him for a career in New York’s financial district and has now added insult to injury by transferring back to Dublin. Raymond, a struggling film critic, is the proud possessor of a crumbling house on Bachelors Walk, an inheritance from his grandfather, which he shares with Michael and Barry. Recently the house gained another tenant when Alison, an attractive art gallery manager from Donegal, moved in on a short lease. Alison appears to have taken quite a shine to Raymond, despite rumours of a Donegal-based doctor boyfriend…

Michael is a barrister who appears never to have actually been inside the Four Courts, despite being the proud owner of a natty pin-stripe suit and a designer attache-case which contains two cans of lager and a copy of the Racing Post. Overweight, over-educated and definitely over-extended, Michael’s life has recently become significantly more complicated with the departure of Jane, his long-term girlfriend and her subsequent announcement that she’s pregnant…

Barry Boland is an old-college mate of Raymond and Michael’s whose drop-out status hasn’t prevented him from becoming the head, and indeed sole employee, of the Boland Corporation. Unfortunately, the business consists mainly of extorting money from Dublin’s street performers. He has recently acquired a new girlfriend in the shape of seventeen-year-old convent-schoolgirl Jennifer. Though always appearing to be stoned, he’s never actually seen smoking a joint…

Don Wycherly plays Raymond, the axis around which the action revolves. The accomplished Corkonian actor is currently appearing at the Abbey theatre, but he’s probably best known to Irish television viewers as Ballykissangel’s Fr Aidan, and has also appeared in Fr Ted. Don’s film credits include Michael Collins and I Went Down, but how did he become involved in Bachelors Walk?

“Initially I was asked to read for the part of Barry,” he explains, “but as I received more scripts I felt drawn to Raymond’s situation. It’s such a funny script, and very real, and I felt that maybe Raymond had the potential to develop as a character which I thought was a challenge. He’s a father figure who doesn’t want to be a father, a landlord who doesn’t collect the rent, a confidant who doesn’t feel able to confide in anyone else. He’s more or less the straight man to Michael and Barry’s antics but as the show goes on you’ll see him come into his own.”

As someone who has played priests in both Ballykissangel and Fr Ted, does he feel he’ll alienate his blue-rinse TV fans as a result of Raymond’s frequent use of the F-word?

“Fuck, no,” he grins. “I know we do use that word a bit but it’s standard Dublin-speak, really. My mother doesn’t like it but I think it’s acceptable. It wouldn’t be believable to have three Irish guys share a house and nobody swears. I mean, have you ever shared with anybody? A funny thing that happened was that the BBC people who were involved in the production read the scripts and originally one of the girls was supposed to be English. The BBC said they had no problem with the word ‘fuck’ as long as the English girl wasn’t the one saying it.”

As probably the most recognisable cast member, how did he cope with the ‘commando’ style film-making technique used on Bachelors Walk?

“It was a little crazy to be honest, since the whole thing was shot on digital mini-cameras. You’d hop out of a car on George’s St and start filming amid the passers by. The cameramen would try to keep the cameras out of sight so members of the public wouldn’t be aware that we were shooting. Unfortunately, though, I found it really difficult to hear the dialogue over the street noise. During the break-up scene between me and Annie Ryan, who plays Kate, she was saying ‘It’s over’ and I was going ‘Yer wha?’ On one level it lends a quality of reality to the production that I think Dubliners in particular will enjoy, and it gives you a lot more freedom with locations, real pubs like Mulligan’s and Neary’s!”

Another area in which the production surpasses most of RTE’s previous comedy output is in the quality of the writing. How much of the dialogue was improvised by the actors?

“None of it was improvised, writers hate that! Most of what’s there was scripted but the writers would occasionally decide that an idea wasn’t working and ask for suggestions. That’s really great as an actor because it’s fun to improvise and then you really appreciate the trust the writer has in your ability to interpret the character. Another factor that helped sell an already excellent script was the chemistry that existed between the actors on set. It’s a million times easier to make a role believable when you believe the guy playing opposite you. The fact that we all got on made for a really friendly set. And I became an expert at Grad Turismo 3 on the Playstation which is nice.”

Can Don give us any indications of what’s coming his way as the series progresses; specifically, does he bed Alison?

“(Laughs) I can’t really tell you that but I can tell you that I do end up in bed with Barry, which is an even more unlikely prospect! But it’s never going to be plain sailing for Raymond on the romance front. It’s in his nature to fuck up and believe me, he does. Sorry about the swearing, Mum!”

Keith McErlean plays Barry, perhaps the most erratic of the house-mates, a tie-dyed stoner who makes a precarious living as an ‘artist manager’ of Dublin’s street theatre players. Barry wears the permanent expression of someone who has just had a balloon burst next to his ear, and once replied to the question (asked by his 17-year-old girlfriend) “Did you orgasm?” with the classic answer “Eh, a bit…”

Keith McErlean is a softly spoken theatre actor whose lilting voice betrays his Carndonagh, Donegal roots, despite his flawless Dublin accent in the series. Did he find it difficult to capture the Barry character on screen?

“I’d been playing Dublin guys on stage for some time before I got this part so I thought I’d be okay with the accent. Although I was wary of what my Dublin mates would think. Or should I say ‘Tink!’ In a lot of ways Barry’s the most fun to play. He’s more out there than the other guys, he’s got a lot of the best lines and his situation is slightly more surreal than that of Raymond or Michael, and as an actor that’s a lot of fun.”

Barry’s ‘situation’ is that of a permanently stoned, tie-dye attired would-be entrepreneur whose girlfriend is a convent schoolgirl. How did Keith research the role?

“I had to kiss a lot of 17 year-old schoolgirls for research, it was dreadful,” he deadpans. “Actually Ailish who plays Jennifer actually is a 17 year-old schoolgirl so that was a bit weird, but she’s very cool. And a very good actress.

“But I don’t agree Barry’s a dope-head; if anything I think he might be one of those dope casualty guys who possibly caned it in his 20s and is now living with that slightly frazzled, burned-out feeling. Or ‘reality’ as it’s sometimes called! But he’s a resourceful character and a bit of a loveable rogue so I think he’ll do alright.”

How did Keith become involved in this project?

“Initially it was a bit of a disaster,” he laughs. “Originally I was called in to read for the part of Alison’s boyfriend, who’s a doctor from Donegal. Like most actors, I just read my own scenes in the script so I was blissfully unaware that it was a comedy piece! So I played it dead straight and couldn’t understand why the writers and directors were falling about laughing. Eventually they called me back to read for Barry, who was originally supposed to be a slightly older guy, and they re-wrote the part to suit a younger guy. But I loved the Barry character and I really enjoyed how he developed as the series went on.”

Keith’s sex scenes with actor Ailish Symons are both risque and often hysterically funny. How difficult was it to play those scenes?

“It was a lot easier playing them than it was when I read them first. I thought ‘Jesus, how are we going to get through this?’ but Ailish is a dream to work with and it wasn’t awkward at all. I’d never really done any love scenes and it’s actually quite clinical on set, ‘Move your arm there and tilt your head as she says the line’ sort of stuff, so really you don’t get time to be embarrassed. But the schoolgirl thing is kind of funny since I’m a bit of a fan of the old uniforms meself! But then the same holds true for a lot of women who fancy army guys or policemen. Or bishops!”

The 14 week shoot made firm friends of the three main cast members who still enjoy the occasional night out on the beer.

“The chemistry among the three of us was really important to the piece and yeah, we have become mates. It was apparent from the first read-through that we had something special and I think we all knew that we could make it work. I’d certainly love to work with the cast and crew again and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Simon Delaney is, incredibly, the only native Dubliner of the house-sharing trio. A resident of Raheny on the capital’s northside, he’s keen to stress that he’s very different to commitment-phobe Michael.

“I’ve got a girlfriend that I love and who loves me and I’m very happy, thanks very much,” he insists. “But I do think that Michael is typical of a lot of Dublin guys, or guys generally I suppose, since he’s not really sure where he’s going and he feels he’s not ready to commit to a relationship. He also plays the sympathy card quite a bit despite not getting it together to improve his situation. But he is very charming and very funny and that helps him get away with murder. A lot of my mates say they can identify with him and indeed the other two guys. They’re really just ordinary blokes. Michael does grow up as the series progresses, though.”

Michael remains, thus far, the only character who’s been seen smoking a joint on screen. Is this correct behaviour for a barrister at law?

“I can’t believe you noticed that but you’re right, in the scene where Michael seduces Allana the barmaid he’s holding a joint and a swiss-roll in one hand. I couldn’t tell you whether or not it was a real joint!”

Are we likely to see Michael in court, be-wigged and be-gowned at any point?

“Unfortunately not,” sighs Michael, “although he does get a job but I’m not going to tell you what that is. I’d quite enjoy a court scene though, maybe if we get a second series. I can imagine Michael defending Barry in a drugs case in Morocco or something.”

Does he find that he’s now being recognised in the street by fans of the show?

“Only when all three of us are together,” he observes. “We filmed the series on digital mini-cam on location so occasionally we had to abandon ship when curious members of the public would interrupt, but Dubliners are usually really blasé anyway. The only time we had any hassle was when we were shooting in Temple Bar and some English stag party people got a little out of order, hi mum-ing into the camera. Spare me!”

Unusually, now that he’s achieved a TV breakthrough role his next ambition is to tread the boards.

“Although I’ve done a lot of TV and film I haven’t done very much theatre and I’d love to do more. Especially after working with Don and Keith who are both Abbey players. I guess I harbour a secret longing to be a luvvie! And if there’s any theatre directors out there I’m currently available for work. A bit like Michael, I suppose.”

Ailish Symons plays Jennifer, the convent-schoolgirl girlfriend of bemused late-20s Barry in the series. We’ve already seen her have a less-than-successful bedroom experience with Barry, ask her shocked paramour for a spanking, and attend her local family planning centre. Ailish stresses that in real life she’s very different from her on-screen persona. In real life, however, she is indeed a 17-year-old schoolgirl, currently studying for her Leaving Cert. in her native Cork city.

“I love the character of Jennifer,” she admits, “but we are quite different people. She’s a lot more girly than I am, she’s very much about glitter make-up and mini-skirts whereas I’d be much more a black trousers and smart white shirt kind of girl. I do think that most girls appreciate that men like uniforms, be it nurse’s uniforms or navy uniforms or whatever. But then a lot of girls like guys in uniforms as well.

“People have asked me before do I think she’s typical of Irish girls and I’d have to say that she may be typical of a certain type of girl, but not of me! Though it was fun to step into her shoes and research the role by doing the kind of thing she does, going to pubs and clubs and shopping in wannabe Barbie boutiques. I’m certainly not sure that I’d go to a party if I was asked by an older guy who was hanging around outside my school!”

I’m amazed by her Cork accent. How easy was it to adopt a Dublin accent for the part?

“I’m pleased you think it’s a good impression since that’s one of the biggest worries I had in the role,” she confesses. “Keith who plays Barry has a soft Donegal accent in real life and I was sort of afraid that he might show me up!”

How did her family and friends react to her appearance on the show, particularly since her character is precociously sexually active and has a fondness for Smirnoff Ice?

“You have to remember that it’s just acting,” she laughs, “and my friends and family know that. I don’t even have a boyfriend at the moment ‘cos I broke up with someone recently and he was lovely but I’m taking a break from men! My Mum and Dad are both fans of the theatre and encouraged me to act from an early age. Initially I did a lot of musicals but I’ve recently moved into regular stage acting. I played Ophelia in Hamlet last year which I really enjoyed.

“My friends think it’s great that I’m on the telly but again they know the real me and that’s not Jennifer. She’s a lot more outgoing and forward than I would be, although I do like that side of her and it’s great fun to play. The thing I like best about acting is that it gives you the opportunity to explore other people and live another life for a little while. But I’m quite happy being me at the end of the day.”

Did she find it difficult to play the sex scenes with Keith McErlean?

“It was difficult but again it’s part of the part and Keith was really cool to work with, especially since he was probably as nervous as me. The difficult thing is that in the party scene, for example, where Jennifer is snogging Barry on the couch, there were about twenty crew members around as well as other actors and the writers and directors. I’m the kind of person who probably wouldn’t be that affectionate to a boyfriend even at a normal party! But really you just get on with it and have a laugh afterwards. The crew were so cool that it really was just about getting the take and moving on.”

Amid rumours of a second series could she see herself reprising the role?

“I always thought Jennifer was a minor character but I loved working on Bachelors Walk and I’d work with those people again in a second. At the moment though I’m studying for my Leaving Cert. with a view to studying Drama at third level in either Dublin or London, so my Mum has insisted I take a break from working for a while. In actual fact I’m not really studying yet though ‘cos I think it’s a bit soon to buckle down. Though maybe I shouldn’t say that, maybe that’s a bit of Jennifer coming out in me!”

THE DIRECTOR'S CUT

Bachelors Walk is the brainchild of a trio of Dublin born writers and directors, brothers John and Kieran Carney and Tom Hall. The trio initially came up with the idea when they were based in offices on Bachelors Walk, and based their characters on themselves and their friends.

"We really loved the area," explains Kieran. "It’s a nice combination of old and new Dublin, and an ideal background for the story of our three protagonists."

"The city really is the fourth character in the series," adds John. "We wanted to show the city that we love and have grown up in more or less in the same way as Woody Allen shoots New York, showing what it is about this city that makes it unique and different from other cities. Dublin has a personality and a mood all of its own and I think we get that across."

Another important factor in setting the mood during the series is the imaginative soundtrack which includes pieces as diverse as Oscar Peterson’s ‘My Heart Belongs To Daddy’ and ‘Inbetween Days’ by the Cure.

"We really just chose the music that we grew up with and by extension, music that the characters would have grown up with," says Tom. "Again we’ve sometimes used the musical pieces to create a mood and offer a clue as to what’s going on in the minds of the characters."

The success of the show has led to rumours that the BBC plan to screen the series on BBC 2 in a primetime slot. Have the trio been approached to do a second series?

"There’s nothing concrete as yet," opines Kieran warily, "but obviously given the success of the show it may well be the case that RTE will want another. The problem, as with all film-making, is finding the money. On a personal level we all really enjoyed working with such a professional crew on both sides of the camera, and we’d love to work with them again."

Bachelor’s Walk airs on RTE 1, Mondays at 9.30pm.