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Review: The Flags

October 26, 2007


Venue: The Royal Exchange
Date Reviewed: 26th October 2007

star

The Flags began life in the Royal Exchange studio, garnering rave reviews and audience approval. The company now bravely brings the piece back to their bigger space, the theatre, in the round. The gamble has paid off if the opening night audience reception was anything to by, as they roared with laughter, throughout.

JJ (Francis Magee) and his friend Howie (Eamonn Owens) are lifeguards on a dirty, run down beach. They spend their days dressed in their Baywatch style attire, looking the part but not acting it. Neither of them could save a fly. But they both dream of finding work on the better beach, minus the dog ends and dead seagulls.

The only thing stopping them is the anally retentive, snooping inspector, Brendan (Kieran Cunningham). Oh, and a Miss Havisham style character roaming the beach in a wedding dress with a rucksack on her back, full of rocks!

This brilliant comedy is laugh out loud funny with some real biting and dark humour at its core. The mood changes constantly, meaning at times you never know whether to chuckle with delight or gasp in horror but that is the appeal of this high-spirited black comedy.

Laurie Dennett’s sand strewn set design is marvelous and the attention to detail is astounding; an old car and some dead birds are just some of the brilliant props, literally at your feet. This provides a real feeling of decay which acts as a metaphor for the changing friendship within the running time of the play.

Magee is excellent as JJ; the man of many tales whom Howie hero-worships. Cunningham and Siobhan McSweeney also bring plenty of knockabout humour to their roles as the boss and the ‘bride’ respectively.

But it is the poignant performance of Owens that lifts The Flags sky high. He exudes innocence and playfulness. This wonderful actor provides Howie with so much charm that you become very fond of him, like Lennie in Of Mice And Men.

Director Greg Hersov’s forte seems to be comedy. Following his wonderful work with Harvey and Cyrano De Bergerac, this is another one of his comic jewels.

At times the pace is slightly stilted as the play itself is very slight, but Bridget O’Connor’s wicked writing always keeps you on your toes, laughing.

With so many twists and turns within the clever narrative, the evening flies by. Life sure is a beach!

- Glenn Meads

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