Monday, February 23, 2015

Poison, Poison, Poison, Mix, Mix, Mix....




The door is thrown open and a man in a tulip yellow dress, overcoat and hat stands holding a container full of blue liquid….


“I quite like a traditional man, are you trying to impress me?"


An acting trophy, Bouncer the dog, orange Y-fronts, Mars bars, Methylated spirits, Cork accents, the dining room sign, brain surgery, coffins and a Tesco girl.  When one of the leads has “Commit to lunacy” on his script, the show deserves its own entry.  

After seeing it the first time, Dinny, Sean, Blake and Hayley as well Paddy, Maureen, Vera, Jack, Peter and Eileen stuck with me.  The fact that three female characters with three distinct voices (complete with three different wigs) were played by one person who often had to carry on a conversation with himself was a bonus.


“All I’ve got is the memory of the roast chicken, Sean.”


It was a surprise all the way to the “Now leave, love”.  I should have known the knife would find at least one victim by the end but I didn’t want to admit that that was where it was going.  The tale is dark and tragic with a load of comedy in between.






I had read a lot of reviews before seeing it and the best description I found was this - “to take a disturbing and tragic story and make it outrageously hilarious: a tale of a father and his sons locked up in an apartment day after day, hiding from a dangerous secret and unable to leave because of their unquenchable fears of the outside world.”



I recently complimented the production company and shared that I saw it three times while in town.  They replied that I had earned the attendance trophy.  Aww!


Sunday, February 22, 2015

Ireland Impressions...



Tiny bottles!!




Saturday, February 21, 2015

Day 8 - 1/24/15




The road home started with an early wake up call.  Waaahhhh – I am ready to go home but I don’t want to.  All the timing worked smoothly form the bus to check in to pre-clearing U.S. customs!   

Flying home to snow caused some concern but it all worked out.  I will have to use my “dodgy” European passport again!!




Friday, February 20, 2015

Day 7 - 1/23/15

The last real day in Ireland! I was up early to get out and make the most of it. I could have gone on a country tour but they were forecasting rain and I really just wanted to be in the city.  After an amazingly fresh breakfast and more souvenir shopping, I ended up getting in line for more Walworth Farce tickets.  The full run was sold out about a week before I arrived but they reserved 20 tickets a day for students and unwaged. (The ticket seller took pity on me and my accent) 


Lunch was at the official Temple Bar and consisted of oysters and a Guinness.  An amazing mix of tastes!! 



I walked to another part of the city and laughed when I heard Hotel California and Sweet Home Alabama within five minutes of each other.  Universe saying it’s time to come home? 





My tickets for the show were unreserved seating and in the top level but that is ok – I got to experience it from all three levels of the theatre!  Plus the building is gorgeous and I got to see the chandeliers up close.



The evening ended with me sitting in my hotel window that overlooked the River Liffey with a glass of wine toasting this fantastic decision to travel.