Photo by John JohnstonCounty Kerry, Ireland. A rural community is turned upside down by the arrival of an American Film crew on location to capture the 'real' Ireland for their latest Hollywood blockbuster. When local men Charlie Conlon and Jake Quinn are employed as extras for the film, they, like the rest of the village, struggle to present the Americans' romanticised Ireland, a stark contrast to the reality of daily life. Read more …
From the local lads intent on being stars, to the film's American lead actress, whose Irish accent leaves a lot to be desired; two actors portray a multitude of characters in this darkly hilarious updated production of Marie Jones' multi-award winning play.
Stones in his Pockets is mediocre at best. It feels like a lost opportunity, has no shame in going for the easy laugh and is filled with clichéd moments stamped ‘been there/done that’. But Fleming and Jack are terrific, and in this rain-soaked so-called summer, they give more than a ray of comedic sunshine.
As an intelligently populist crowd-pleaser, it can't fail. As a critique of the ongoing corruption of mass entertainment, it's deadly.
The biggest impression is of the actors' energy, subtlety and fun in an unusually polemical comedy.
If Fleming and Jack sometimes lack the dazzling precision and energy that won multiple awards for the show’s original cast, they still tell Jones’s increasingly tragic story with skill and feeling; as they speak up for ordinary folk everywhere, driven off the land, and left to fend for themselves in a labour market that often offers them little security, and no dignity at all.
The performances will make or break any production of Marie Jones' play and Fleming and Jack make the absolute most out of it - their curtain call alone makes it worth seeing.
The stars of last year’s Tron panto couldn’t have found a better vehicle for their versatile talents.
Stones in His Pockets comes to Tron Theatre
Somethings out of nothing
Tron Theatre, Glasgow from Thursday July 5, 2012, until Saturday July 21, 2012. More info: www.tron.co.uk
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