Tag: review

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“Crestfall” – Vulgar, violent but visually stunning Crestfall abandons the glorious Kathleen Ni Houlihan and provides a darker and more insidious image of women in Ireland dealing with domestic abuse, prostitution, animal cruelty and extreme violence.

●●●○○ Crestfall is a play that caused disgust and protestations when it was first performed at the Gate Theatre in 2003, and this new performance by Druid on the Abbey’s Peacock Stage perfects that beautiful outrage. Crestfall abandons the glorious … Continue reading “Crestfall” – Vulgar, violent but visually stunning Crestfall abandons the glorious Kathleen Ni Houlihan and provides a darker and more insidious image of women in Ireland dealing with domestic abuse, prostitution, animal cruelty and extreme violence.

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Keeping up with Poldark – season 3, episode 9 – the finale Kettles on, tricorn hats out, good coats at the ready: it’s time for one final fling with this year’s series of Poldark.

The final episode of Poldark’s third series opened with coastlines, rum, warbling, and even a flicked-out sailor’s telescope (not a euphemism). There were love letters with phrases like ‘press but her lips to mine, and never let love decay’ (basically the eighteenth century’s answer to sexting); George was screwing over the poor again; and Geoffrey Charles was channeling Aunt Agatha (“It’s a Poldark house! And he’s a usurper!”). This being a series finale, however, it was inevitable they’d invoke the ancient Poldark rule that no more than two people can be happy at any one time (this week it was Dwight and Caroline). I predicted a finale of adultery and clifftop contemplation, mining and murder, and though there was less of the latter, they went hell for leather on the former.

SPOILERS!

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“Jimmy’s Hall” at the Abbey Theatre – review Running in the Abbey after a short stint in Leitrim, "Jimmy’s Hall" lavishly immerses the audience into Irish culture, matching the bleak with the bright to showcase a polished production perfect for the summer season.

●●●●○ Jimmy’s Hall is the theatre adaptation of Ken Loach’s 2014 film, relaying the true story of Irish communist James Gralton, and his plight to avoid deportation from post-Civil War Ireland. His crime? Setting up a dance hall, a safe … Continue reading “Jimmy’s Hall” at the Abbey Theatre – review Running in the Abbey after a short stint in Leitrim, “Jimmy’s Hall” lavishly immerses the audience into Irish culture, matching the bleak with the bright to showcase a polished production perfect for the summer season.

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Tn2’s Man Booker Picks: Days Without End by Sebastian Barry The war novel that focuses on the individual over the sweeping cause

Sebastian Barry delivers an incredible novel with Days Without End. Winner of the 2016 Costa Book of the Year, Barry’s ninth novel is now in the running for the 2017 Man Booker Prize. This will be the author’s third time … Continue reading Tn2’s Man Booker Picks: Days Without End by Sebastian Barry The war novel that focuses on the individual over the sweeping cause

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‘The Incredible Jessica James’ is one dope film Maia Mathieu reviews the freshest indie rom-com on Netflix.

●●●○○ The story that Netflix‘s new indie rom-com follows is a familiar one. You have your twenty-something woman in a creative field, living in a gorgeous apartment in the big city that you know she could never afford in real … Continue reading ‘The Incredible Jessica James’ is one dope film Maia Mathieu reviews the freshest indie rom-com on Netflix.

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Keeping up with Poldark – season 3, episode 8 Extramarital shifting! Heartfelt confessions! Shiny hair! Fireside snacks! Murder?

The penultimate episode of Poldark series three was a bit of a belter, mainly thanks to one particularly spectacular bait and switch. Poldark rarely employs overt storytelling devices (there’s only been one hallucinatory vision sequence so far this year, and hardly any voiceovers) but when they do, it’s marvellous. SPOILERS!

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“The Great Gatsby” – review  The Gate has removed its seats, lowered its chandeliers and transformed the entire building into the enigmatic Gatsby mansion where characters roam the dance floor, ready to whisper in your ear at one moment and dance wildly with you the next.

Having studied The Great Gatsby for the Leaving Cert, I could write about the intricacies of its plot and language until my fingers turned blue with ink as the clock ticked down on the frenzied, nightmarish race that is English … Continue reading “The Great Gatsby” – review  The Gate has removed its seats, lowered its chandeliers and transformed the entire building into the enigmatic Gatsby mansion where characters roam the dance floor, ready to whisper in your ear at one moment and dance wildly with you the next.