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Michael Cox reviews a production that's 'frequently funny with bold moments that will be difficult to forget'.
Nestled in the home of their recently buried father, brothers Coleman and Valene are at continuous war. Coleman slouches around, constantly quipping with his brother over every little thing and taking every opportunity to wind him up. Valene has marked every item in the house with a ‘V’ to denote ownership (he was the sole beneficiary of their father’s will), and he won’t let his brother use anything without his expressed permission; no swigs of alcohol or eating from tiny crisp packets, and no using the new oven for any form of heat.
Those familiar with Martin McDonagh’s work won’t be surprised by how the play is structured: fast-paced plot with witty lines and occasional explosions of violence. On it’s own, there is much to enjoy, particularly in the play’s second half. However, in comparison to his other work (including the excellent plays The Beauty Queen of Leenane and The Lieutenant of Inishmore and the screenplay for In Bruges), the script feels a bit underwhelming.
Underwhelming, however, is not a word one can use to describe Andy Arnold’s production. He keeps the comedy crisp throughout, and the action is relentless when it comes. The highlight of Arnold’s production comes in his casting: all four actors are terrific. Making her professional debut, Kirsty Punton brings sparky fun whenever her character Girleen bursts on the stage, and Michael Dylan gives a quiet dignity to the faith-wavering Father Welsh.
But the success of Lonesome lies in the performances of the brothers, and it is here that Arnold’s production soars: Keith Fleming is an absolute treat as Coleman, and David Ganly is equally hilarious (and at times revolting) as Valene. Their constant battles could have easily gotten tedious, but together Fleming and Ganly are not just consistently compelling but engrossing in their on-going battle of one-upmanship.
The Tron Theatre has had some good artistic successes with summer comedies over the last few years, but The Lonesome West is definitely one of their most successful: frequently funny with bold moments that will be difficult to forget.
The Lonesome West performs at the Tron Theatre until July 23, 2016.
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