Howie The Rookie: Evening Echo Review
October 12th, 2007 by EoinReview Howie The Rookie Granary Theatre
Two monologues on either side of an interval might not be everyone’s idea of a good play, but this one works well – not least because of the quality of the production it gets in the Granary.
The only real pity about the enterprise is that such a small audience turned up to see it. The new talent on show deserves a warmer welcome in Cork over the next few nights.
Given that this was the first production in the latest New Directors’ Festival at the Granary, the most noteworthy thing about it was the top-drawer performance from Nick Kavanagh.
For a young actor it was an expertly modulated performance, flicking between characters at ease and finding an easy and assured tone over a 45-minute monologue.
Mark O’Rowe’s acclaimed play is like a film eagerly described from a barstool.
Director Eoin Ó hAnnracháin builds on the queasiness and intensity towards a slow release of tragic and twisted consequences.
The second monologue is given quite a convincing performance by Stephen McCann as his character’s story overlaps with Kavanagh’s.
It is the kind of play that could be sound-tracked to death but Ó hAnnracháin wisely lets the script make the music through the talents of the actors.
A new director could be forgiven for falling to the temptations of staging a production that draws attention to itself in all the worst ways by attaching all kinds of bells and whistles and directorial signatures. But the collective talents at work on this piece seem to be too cool to fall for that.
Good work, deserving a good audience.
Liam Heylin, Evening Echo, Thursday October 11th.
Howie The Rookie runs in the Granary Theater until Saturday the 13th of October.
Entries (RSS)
October 12th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
The review doesn’t go far enough… a fantastic performance by all and a fine directoral debut by yourself Eoin. For those of you who have not seen it yet… GO!
October 13th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Thanks Dave. Looks like a decent crowd tonight. Anyone who’s planning on going tonight should book in advance.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Congratulations Eoin, really great show.
I loved the production/direction but I have some reservations about the text – nearly everyone else I know who has seen or read this play loves it, but I’m not convinced… but that’s a discussion for another time!
Anyone who missed this show, you really missed out, be on the lookout for Eoin’s next project… what’s that likely to be Eoin..?
October 15th, 2007 at 1:44 am
Well I’ll finish Howie The Rookie first. We’re taking it to Waterford next. 26th & 27th of October. But more on that soon. I think the text is great Frank, we’ll be discussing that for some time yet I’d say. I’m looking forward to seeing the Mark O’Rowe scripted Boy A in the Cork Film Festival on Saturday too.
October 19th, 2007 at 10:35 am
[...] The production will be managed by Laura Daly, and Eoin O hAnnrachain will be assistant director. [...]
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:28 pm
[...] The production of Howie The Rookie which recently finished in the Granary Theatre, Cork is being taken over by Clinic Media and will be going to Waterford. We play the Granary again as part of the Imagine Arts Festival. Anyone who missed it in Cork should come along as it looking set to be even better this time around. Book early as this venue only holds 75 people a night. Granary Theatre Merchants Quay Waterford Ireland 8pm / 26 – 27 October €15 Box Office: (051) 855038 Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
November 11th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
[...] Eoin Ó hAnnracháin comes fresh from his successful direction of “Howie the Rookie”at the Granary and Waterford’s Imagine Festival. He is charged with becoming Sara-Jane in mind and body and bringing her to bear twofold upon the cast. Eoin is a regular correspondent on http://www.bifsniff.com, a devoted Everton fan, and a prolific actor. The photo above has been cropped of a young nephew, hence the unusual cranial inclination. [...]