West Kerry Live - Corca Dhuibhne Beo - News Sports Features and Entertainment on the Dingle Peninsula

A local crowd packed the house for the final night of the Beehive Theatre Company's “Briefs” -- an evening of seven short plays by first-time playwrights.  Working over the winter with playwright and musician Mike Venner, the new writers gave life to a melange of quirky characters in sticky situations. 
A particular crowd-pleaser was Orna Dunlevy's three-act take on post-boom Ireland, “Downsizers.”  A comedic skewering of pretension, aspiration and keeping up appearances, “Downsizers” charts two couples whose friendship has split on the boom-bust divide.  Aidan O'Shea gives a great performance as a man on the down and out trying to maintain his humor and humanity.
Another standout is Patsy Farr's “Waiting,” where three old women in a nursing home combat their unvarying days with orneriness, games and episodic dementia.   The playwright also takes the lead role, a weighty and forceful presence who refuses to be patronized, or forgive old wounds. 
Veronique Gerber's three shorts feature unexpected twists and fun with language, each delivering a punchy, surprise ending.  Malcolm George adds to his consistently good run of performances in two of these, and also in Billy O'Brien's “Best Friends,” which chronicles a mess of deception among four friends with a clever and challenging technique.  And Camilla Dinkel's “Cosi Fan Tutte” reveals layers of personality and character in a charming monologue. 
“Briefs” is an entertaining evening that introduces fresh talent to the local theatrical scene.  The crowd on the night was highly appreciative, even applauding a scene change (involving a ladder).  If the Beehive reprises any or all of these plays, make sure to get a ticket.