As a title, They Never Froze Walt Disney, is a corrective, and an indication also of the dysfunctional nature of the two characters in this slight but endearing play. As a corrective the title states a fact; as an indication it carries much of the plot, for the young-old man dealing with the young-old woman has a pedantic streak which, as a boy, he displays with a helpless charm but which, as a man, he uses with ruthless if bewildered righteousness.

In a necessary contrast, the girl/woman he once almost loved confuses words such as eulogy with elegy as readily as she confuses facts.

Her rebellious streak makes him initially protective and the way in which these conflicting but potentially complementary characteristics harden and distort drives what there is of the action.

Writer Jody O’Neill doesn’t overstate the case, but arranges possibilities with too little regard for likelihood (for example, if the social stigma she indicates is as powerful as it has to be here, how does the much-mentioned subsequent marriage come about?). There are also one or two moments reminiscent of other plays on the theme of young, unspoken and unfulfilled love, including even what might be called a balcony scene. But it is this insouciance which defines the work, especially as it is carried through by the convincing performances and assured timing of John McCarthy and Jody O’Neill herself.

The poignant innocence of their youthful encounters is given comic counterpoint by the freezer lowing like a tanker in the kitchen, where home-made cryogenic procedures are attempted. If this suggests a black comedy, the suggestion in inaccurate.

Directed with a light hand by Jack Healy, with sound design by Carl Kennedy, the comedy is assured, beautifully pointed and anything but dark.

Mary Leland, The Irish Times, 10/01/2008

A play that premiered during the Midsummer Festival is back on stage in Cork this week, at a time when the temperature is more in keeping with the title.

Jody O’Neill has written a one-hour play starring herself and John McCarthy, and it is difficult not to have a smile fixed to your face for the duration.

Paudie and Marie come on like two archetypal hangovers from an almost forgotten Ireland. They meet in a funeral home, which could be located anywhere between Shandon Street and Craggy Island.

Jody O’Neill’s character is a home-knit psychosis that steadily unravels as the threads of the story are tugged. It is not long before we find our that she is responsible for the death of the man laid out for removal.

Her childhood sweetheart - still friendly after all the years - is played with comic skill by John McCarthy, who is in equal measures daft and deferential. When Marie confides that she finds it cold, Paudie tells her helpfully, “That’ll be the guilt”.

Director Jack Healy puts a nice squeeze on the script, getting the play to pop with a sense of sexual repression. The flickering of scenes between youth and older age is done very credibly and with the minimum of fuss.

It is tantalising to think what might have been if the script ratcheted up the comedy instead of moving wholeheartedly into loneliness and madness at the end.

But this is a very enjoyable, zany little love story kept naggingly on simmer for years. And Jody O’Neill leaves the stage with her cooky charms intact - like she is popping out to catch the last Mass.

Liam Heylin, Evening Echo, 09/01/2008.

The fourth, and final teaser trailer for the show that opened in the Granary tonight.

It is with a tinge of sadness that I put up the final teaser trailer. I’ve enjoyed working on them. Some of bits aren’t quite as I had planned and others bits were pleasant surprises. They currently stand at 316 viewings for “Cold”, 106 viewings for “Eulogy”, and 60 viewings for “Tea & Smoothie” in just 3 days. I’m quite pleased with that and with the way our attempts on Facebook have spread the word of the play but it is a pity that the houses haven’t been full.

Those of you who have yet to see this play should go! It is a little gem and they don’t come along very often (even less often in Cork). It’s only an hour long too so it won’t interfere with your plans of an evening. I do not think this play will return for a third run in it’s current guise so catch it before it’s gone.

They Never Froze Walt Disney
The Granary Theatre, Cork
8th-12th January at 8pm (preview January 7th)
Bookings & Info: 021 490 4275

The latest teaser trailer!

Don’t forget the play previews tonight…

Designed by myself. Very different to the poster/flyer I designed for the first run of this great play.

In case you can’t read the flyer for any reason:

They Never Froze Walt Disney
The Granary Theatre, Cork
8th-12th January at 8pm (preview January 7th)
Bookings & Info: 021 490 4275

Oh, and pick up one of the flyers around Cork over the next week or so to get details on how to win a pair of tickets to see the show! And watch the trailers for the show that Eoin is doing!