THE THREAT OF HUMOUR – COMING THIS MARCH 10th in the GRANARY THEATRE

“APOCALYPSE, THEN” REVIEW – THE IRISH TIMES

by Mary Leland

TWO men, one in a box, on in a bath, make up the cast for “Apocalypse, then” taking place at the Everyman Palace Studio.  Written by Ciaran Fitzpatrick and John McCarthy, this presents a world suddenly under water; wondering if the water might be that of the Atlantic or the Mediterranean, one of them is told that, no, it’s Mitchelstown. The by-pass.

Even the apocalypse has its local geography, and the play sets up these physical incongruities as a counterweight to the personal dissonance of the characters, one a cynic, the other ostensibly making the best of the situation – the situation being extinction.

The flotsam washing up against the unlikely vessels inspires thoughts of survival along with the realisation that life is a series of half-understood images.  Mildly funny, mildly original and with a few imaginative leaps into survival psychology, the play does no harm to the reputation of its writers, its cast Raymond Scannell and Paul Mulcahy or its director Sara Jane Power, except that it might have been sharper and shorter.

Had that been the case, it might have distracted the audience’s thoughts from the sirens and storms raging outside the studio space, which to be useful at all should be made soundproof, although the combined effects of torrential rain and rush-hour traffic provided a suitably cataclysmic atmosphere.

“APOCALYPSE, THEN” REVIEW – IRISH EXAMINER

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by Gerry Quinn

MOST comedic double acts fall into the category of straight guy, funny guy.

From the original purveyors of the form, Laurel and Hardy, to their stuffed puppet counterparts Bert and Ernie, most comic pairings have drawn humour from a similar source, that of personality conflict: a combination of the reasoned reactions of the more serious character offest against ridiculous comic antics of the stooge.

And through the characters of Declan and Felix, the main players of Apocalypse, Then, we were presented with what would be described as a post-apocalyptic version of Fathers Ted and Dougal. Of sorts.

Put simply, Apocalypse, Then tells the story of two Cork men who are the last humans on earh in a post-apocalyptic Mitchelstown in north Cork.   While this may sound like familiar territory for many theatrical productions coming from Cork, this play was mainly free of the hackneyed references to the Shandon Bells/Goldie Fish/River Lee, which alienate the non-local audience members viewers through flagrant overuse of colloquialisms.

Writers Ciaran Fitzpatrick and John McCarthy have produced a witty and intelligent, although overly long, dialogue for the cast.

With a simple set design which featured Felix in a wooden waste disposal box and Declan in a bath tub, the production underlines the virtues of working within a low budget.

The acting throughout the play was strong and despite a slightly shaky beginning, Ray Scannell grew into his role as the hapless and hopelessly optimistic Felix, while Paul Mulcahy gave a more than convincing performance as the pedantic and frustrated Declan.

While Apocalypse, Then may not quite be the finished article, this production and crew involved are heading in the right direction.  It’s definitely one to check out.

“APOCALYPSE, THEN” REVIEW – EVENING ECHO: ENTERTAINING TALE OF STRANDED ODD COUPLE

By Liam Heylin

THIS new play involving the last two people to survive the apocalypse — two Corkmen as it happens — is an enjoyable small-scale studio production at the Everyman.

Ciaran Fitzpatrick and John McCarthy wrote this entertaining vision of humanity trying to stay afloat after a flood, where one turns to the other and asks if they are “in the Atlantic or the Mediterranean,” only to be told that they are in Mitchelstown, floating over the bypass. 

Director Sara Jane Power’s response to the piece is to play it low-key.  At times, its Monty Pythonesque moments could signal a departure from any rhyme or reason, but the director anchors the work, so to speak, in the characters rather than the surrealism or their lack of place.

This is a feisty and engaging response to Three Men in a Boat, rendered as two men in a box and a bathtub.   They yearn for women, despair of ever being able to conjure a woman’s image, only to find – holy of holies – a copy of The Sun with a Page 3 girl.  

One nagging feeling about the entertaining hour or so is that it is sometimes that bit too self-conscious to relax totally into itself as a drama.  That could ease out with a few more performances.

But actors Raymond Scannell and Paul Mulcahy play it out very well – Mulcahy all cranky, nerdy and self-obsessed; Scannell coming across as the guy who is full of beans, full of the joys and happy to suf on the unpredictable sea of life.  And it has some nice humour that pops up on the blindside, like the line that they might be the best Irish language speakers left in the world.  The play is then equally comfortable in slipping into philisophical imponderables, like whether or not there is a God presiding over their fate.

They’re an odd couple worth meeting – one of them is even called Felix.

APOCALYPSE, YESTERDAY

APOCALYPSE, THEN previewed to a packed house yesterday evening in the Everyman Palace Studio.   There were lots of laughs and a few tears (mostly Paul)…the  preview was a huge success and it’ll be even better tonight!

The show is sold out until Saturday so book as soon as you can!

ALL OVER THE PRESS LIKE A BAD RASH

The cast and crew (except Colum, who was working) of Apocalypse Then appear on this week’s edition of The Cork Independent. Not only do they have a dedicated article inside but the cover – yes the cover!!! – of the Entertainment section bears their shining visages…

Listen out for Paul Mulcahy and John McCarthy on Cork Campus Radio’s Arts Show (97.4fm) on Friday from 4.30. Also expect an interview with Sara-Jane in The Evening Echo next Wednesday… It really is a good time to be an obsessed fan.

PICTURE THIS

SET CONSTRUCTION PICS FOR APOCALYPSE, THEN!

      

ARMAGGEDON’S DEEP IMPACT SELLS OUT!

News just in: the opening date of Apocalypse, Then has sold out! Those lucky few (well, fifty) with the opening night stub will rub shoulders with the Irish Times and the Evening Echo, as well as two playwrights beaming in smug self-satisfaction. Our events co-ordinator, Timothy Hannon, advises all to book now to guarantee averted disappointment.

HAMMERGRIN ENVOYS IN DUBLIN AND LONDON

Hammergrin this month saw two of its finest diplomats posted in “abroad”: Timothy Hannon, of “Morning After Optimism” fame, is now based in Swords Co. Dublin, and Michael Bate, who helped bring the first “Trying Jokes” to life, is heading for London. We wish both of them the very best and trust they will enjoy themselves with us when they return. The latter Grinner also brings with him Walter Mansfield (of Trying Jokes Mach #2 ) and Maria Moynihan (New Director’s Festival Co-Ordinator) to whom we extend our other set of best wishes. Do report back.