Gonzo does it again with Pure Brothers!
by Sinead Hogan Updated: Wednesday, 30th June, 2010 5:00pm
Tommy Sharkey as a Dublin drug-dealer scaring the living daylights out of accidental gangland visitor played by David Kelly.
It wouldn't be Gonzo style to serve up a run-of-the-mill production, as Pure Brothers attested. The theatre named after Hunter S. Thompson's style of writing is establishing its own brand of comical, creative and sometimes wacky entertainment.
In Gonzo's first production, a one-hander called Mysterious Ways, Philip Doherty told the tale of a Knock native, whose only apparitions of women are of half-dressed clubbers in the early hours of the morning. The writer and actor delivered it with twists, humour and surprises as well as clever set design and original music by Robbie Perry.
The second production, also written by Cavan native Philip, was Tales From The Heart And Other Body Parts. It featured a large cast in a series of 'chapters' stitched together by artists whisking up sketches on an easel on the stage, Rolf Harris style.
The most recent offering, Pure Brothers, once again directed by Kevin O'Connor, premiered for Cavan Summer Festival and International Hen Weekend, but will be given another run, Philip promises.
Pure Brothers tells the story of two Cavan brothers who trip into the drug-fuelled world of gangland violence in their race to ditch their virginity.
Playing the part-innocent, part-sexually frustrated and total eejit older brother, Co. Cavan native actor Kieron Smith showcased the natural flair and skill he evidently honed while completing his Performing Arts degree. Rucksack on back, David Kelly, was every bit the student younger brother, aspiring to cool-dom to the extent that his accent had changed to reflect his new place of abode.
Imagine the pair when they inadvertently get mixed up with such lovely characters as Psycho Murphy, a baseball-wielding, orange-crushing madman played excellently by Niall Lynch, and Seconds, the sinister 'skangaaaw' in tracksuit-tucked-into-white-socks or boxers-and-towelly-bathrobe combo, every breath and inch of whom is brought to life by amazing acting talent Tommy Sharkey. Aisling Fay, Catherine Mohan, Lisa Donohoe, Shane Cusack, Gary Lacey and Deirdre O'Reilly, upheld the high standard of acting in this large cast. The appeal of this play, however, is not only in the fine acting which capitalises on Philip's funny script and clever plot. The Gonzo aim of "building up a repertoire of original works" is achieved also through the 'minstrel-in-residence' and through the entertaining use of puppetry.
The play opens with the spotlight on minstrel Daragh Slacke delivering on guitar and vocals original compositions he and Philip wrote for the play. To the audience's delight many more appropriate tunes and lyrics are interspersed throughout the play. The puppetry scene had the audience doubled up with laughter; it's a shady Podge and Rodge more so than Punch and Judy.
Credit is well due to all involved in the play - Kurt Cusack, Ciara Gaffney and Claire Harrington behind the scenes, as well as the cast, writer Philip and minstrel musician Daragh, ably directed, as always, by Kevin O'Connor.
Another Gonzo aim is to "focus on comedy and live music, exploring original and unconventional techniques in order to promote theatre as the vibrant and exciting artform that it is".
Once again, in Pure Brothers, the Gonzo theatre did just that. If you're after contemporary, quirky and original theatre that you won't get just anywhere, go Gonzo.
• Coming up in the Gonzo theatre (upstairs in the Imperial, Main Street, Cavan): New York female rock band, Lily Sparks, with support by local talent, Karina Charles, with her band at the Gonzo on Thursday, July 8.
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