|
A Couple of Blaguards
Written by Frank McCourt & Malachy McCourt
Directed by Howard Platt
At Royal George Theatre
1642 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL
Call 312-988-9000, tickets $39.50 - $49.50
Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 PM
Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 5 & 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time is 1 hour, 40 minutes with intermission
Through December 24, 2006
Irish tales a tad too blarney-soaked
I’m Irish-American (with a touch of Welsh) so I was raised deep in the Irish traditions, culture and music. I have seen the film, Angela’s Ashes (by Frank McCourt) which is criticized by many Irish natives as an exaggeration of life in Limerick in the 1930's. While I can relate and appreciate much of the urban folk stories presented here by the brothers McCourt, I find it hard to believe all of the stories purported to be autobiographical. Then again, the Irish have never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
A Couple of Braguards (charming scoundrels) is a 100 minute, two-part affair played by Jarlath Conroy (Frank) and Howard Platt (Malachy). These guys have played these roles for years and it shows as they smoothly mix the humor, the Irish fatalism and the anti-Catholic coming of age stories of youth in the squalors of Limerick, Ireland. I have a minority view of this show since I found it degrading to and about the Irish. The tone makes the Irish seem rigid, uncaring and cruel. Stereotypes of the drunken men, weak mothers, mean priests, uncaring fathers are all presented with rich mixes of biting sardonic humor that was lost on me.
Many laughed all night as the two actors played all the roles with deft aplomb. My problem with the show is that it is a stretch to have actors play first person humor that wasn’t theirs. It just didn't ring true for me, the forced exaggeration fell flat. What offends me (and many Irish) is the portrayal of Irishmen as stupid, lazy, drunks. Part two, with the boys in Brooklyn, made the Irish look small-minded and crude. It is humor that exploits their Irish heritage and that is offensive to many. Most will laugh at the sentimentality of these dated images, I found they trite and shopworn. This 1988 show had the McCourt's testing their memories on audiences that later led to each writing a best seller. This show has survived for 18 years and surly will find its audience here in 2006. I guess I'm tired of ethnic shows that insult the source groups. Again, I'm probably a minority on this one. I didn't laugh but you probably will.
Somewhat Recommended
Tom Williams
tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2006
|
