Photo EamonnMcGoldrickIn a dark room in Beirut three hostages, an Irishman, an Englishman and an American, are kept chained. They do not know why they have been captured, how many days have passed or if they are waiting for death or release. Read more …
Together, in their imaginations and in their friendships, small escapes are found. They write letters to those left behind, recreate favourite films, re-live Virginia Wade’s 1977 Wimbledon triumph. They hold on desperately to their laughter, their differences, their prejudice and the love that keeps them alive.
Frank McGuinness looks into darkness and finds a magical flame of human warmth in this brilliant and beautiful work of pure, storytelling theatre which proved a hit both in the West End and on Broadway.
The play is dedicated to Brian Keenan who with his fellow captives, John McCarthy and Terry Anderson, was taken hostage in Beirut by fundamentalist Shi’ite militiamen. This is not their story, but it is a powerful testament to their strength of spirit.
That McGuinness has created such a riveting play out of this unpromising scenario is astonishing. That artistic director Rachel O’Riordan has given it such a superb production in Perth is thrilling.
As with most of McGuinness' work, it's pretty much unbreakable, and Rachel O'Riordan's new production simply lets it speak for itself.
Powerful and commanding.
Perth Theatre, Perth from Wednesday February 8, 2012, until Saturday February 25, 2012. More info: www.horsecross.co.uk
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