Siren THE SKIP the
12
College Tribune | 3rd March 2009
THEATRE
Handbags and Gladrags With the recent Dramsoc production of ‘A Couple of Poor Polish Speaking Romanians’, curiosity gets the better of Katie Godwin to find out what is behind such a name. As she delves into the murky underworld of Dramsoc. Written by Dorota Maslowski, Directed by Lisa Carroll ‘A Couple Of Poor, Polish Speaking Romanians’ tells the tale of a drugged up polish couple comprising of an actor (Parcha) and a psychopathic slapper (Dzina) and the drug induced events which occur to them after they leave a dress-up party which include: giving €5,000 and an mp3 player to a taxi man, drinking straight vodka while pregnant and pretending to be Russian and threat-
ening to attack a taxi man with a potato peeler. These happenings are somewhat original but they have only vague relevance to the plot. The whole story seems to be just an exaggeratedly eccentric night out with no intellectual stimulation or satisfaction which one expects at the theatre. It touches a multitude of themes including suicide, drugs, racism, love, feminism and failed motherhood but, frustratingly, fails to develop any of them. This, combined with the nu-
merous unanswered questions at the end of the play, leave you feeling unsettled and wonder what Dorota Maslowski is saying with this piece. Lisa Carroll’s production didn’t really do anything to enhance our understanding of what Maslowska was trying to achieve except perhaps demonstrate how aggravating drunk polish women can be. Dzina (played by Caitriona Ennis) gave an impressive imitation of a drugged up polish nutcase. Yet she was
so irritating that when she reveals how lonely and unwanted she feels and commits suicide, nobody feels the sorrow that usually follows. In general the acting was impressive, particularly that of Craig White who played Parcha but the strong Dublin accents distorted the Polish feel of the play and made things slightly confusing. The set design for the first scene was creative and deserves credit. An air freshener hanging down from the theatre roof, a pizza box steering-
wheel, a stack of crates and cushions, two desk lamps and somebody’s iPod speakers were daringly budget but worked in creating the idea of a car. This combined with Lisa Carroll and Finbarr Doyle on the sidelines waving around lamps. Overall the show was interesting but the good acting and amusing set design failed to compensate for the lack of wit or sense of the script with which they were working.
BOOKS Espionage Excellence
THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS JOHN BUCHAN
A pioneering adventure book, The Thirty-Nine Steps is an archetypal example of the man on the run story which remains as popular as ever in both novels and films. Written in 1915 shortly after the outbreakoftheFirstWorldWar,thestory follows Richard Hannay who, due to a chance encounter with a spy, becomes involved in an investigation concerning events that are of international importance. Following the spy’s murder Hannay flees to Scotland to hideout while he deciphers a journal which could hold vital secrets regarding a mole in the British government. Buchan’s fast moving story involves the now expected twists and turns along with an underlying humour. This playfulness can even be seen in the individual chapter titles which allude to the many different roles Hannay takes on to evade his pursuers. Using fictional characters, Hannay’s story is positioned as the unseen
events that led to the outbreak of the war in 1914. The use of Brittish and Scottish landscape in particular gives the story an alien dimension and a peculiar atmosphere of paranoia when compared with much of the globe-trotting adventures that would follow in its wake. The political dimension of assassinations and spies can be (and has been) adapted to fit with anymajorconflictbelyingthenovel’s perceived purpose as a piece of entertaining propaganda on its initial release. UltimatelyTheThirty-NineStepsisan exciting read even to those familiar with the book’s many adaptations; deviating as they do from some of theoriginal’sparticularlywittytwists and even the fundamental element of what the thirty-nine steps actually means. Nicholas Broadstock
Hellish Shenanigans I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell is over 250 pages of fornication, debauchery and alcoholism. The novel focuses on Law student, Tucker Max, who reveals how his life of sexual and alcoholic indulgences and obnoxious and selfish behaviour has led to his six-figure income. Tucker openly calls himself an asshole in the first chapter and then proceeds to explain why using a collection of embarrassing sexual encounters. These include ejaculating on a girls face, wetting a girls bed and blaming it on her and making a fat girl (who he just slept with) jump out the window of his apartment so his friends don’t see her. The most humorous aspect of this novel is Maxx’s blunt honesty; he isn’t afraid to leave out any sticky details despite them being self degrading. However the book isn’t just about a sexually promiscuous guy, the main point it makes is that you don’t have to conform to societies etiquettes to
I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL TUCKER MAXX be successful. Tucker treats women the way he likes, crashes into a donut shop and has a bad case of diarrhea all over a hotel lobby. However, he is not concerned about reforming and instead he brags that his rash behaviour has brought him fame. He is like an American Russell Brand, receiving praise for blatant obnoxiousness. What is ironic about this book is that Tucker speaks of mistreating and ridiculing women but he ultimately tells ladies what they need to hear when he offers this very shrewd suggestion. "Ladies let me give you some advice: Men will treat you the way you let them. There is no such thing as "deserving" respect; you get what you demand from people," I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell triggers both hearty laughter as well as some very welcome, serious self-reflection. Katie Godwin