London
IF WE GOT SOME MORE COCAINE
I COULD SHOW YOU HOW I LOVE YOU
by John O’Donovan
3Stars***

The Old Red Lion Theatre to 24 September
418 John Street, Islington, London EC1V 4NJ
Tues-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat & Sun 3pm.
Runs 1hr 15 mins No interval.

TICKETS: 0844 412 4307
www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk
Review: William Russell 31 August 2016

A spellbinding night on the tiles
It is Halloween in a small Irish town somewhere in the West of the country. Two young men, petty criminal Mikey and 18 year old Casey, have just robbed a petrol station and, pursued by the Garda, have taken refuge on the roof of Casey’s house, waiting until the coast is clear so they can go to a party.

Casey comes from Croydon, lives with his mother and her boyfriend, who gives him a hard time. Mikey, who is a few years older, is a tearaway with a criminal record. They are in love.

This funny, sad and perceptive first play by John O’Donovan holds the attention throughout, although the two actors could do with raising their voices a little – they are pretending to keep quiet in order not to arouse the Garda down below but sometimes that means not everything comes across to the audience.

They squabble, discuss how they will get down, Mikey reveals what he has looted from the house downstairs, which includes a small stash of cocaine – the pair get happily high – and some whiskey as well as an envelope containing money he found in Casey’s mum’s makeup box.

Gradually we realise this is a relationship with no future, but that does not mean the boys necessarily have no future, as more is revealed of their respective pasts and one discovers what happens to the clown mask Casey wore while carrying out the robbery.

The performances by Ammar Duffus as Casey, and Alan Mahon as Mikey could not be bettered.

Casey: Ammar Duffus.
Mikey: Alan Mahon

Director: Thomas Martin.
Designer: Georgia de Grey
Sound Designer & Composer: Jon McLeod.
Lighting Designer: Derek Anderson.

2016-09-02 09:24:08