Alone It Stands (Munster 12 - All Blacks 0)

Synopsis

This award-winning comedy tells the true story of Ireland's greatest sporting legend. Six actors play over sixty characters - and a dog! There is a birth, a wake, a haka, a bonfire and a match that will never be forgotten.

Our Review:

8 January 2002

This true David and Goliath story - of how an amateur Irish rugby team beat one of the world's best rugby teams, the New Zealand All Blacks, in a match on 31 October 1978 - has now become the stuff of another David and Goliath story.

The Yew Tree Theatre Company, based in County Mayo in northwest Ireland, first staged Alone it Stands at Waterford Rugby Club, and subsequently toured it to other rugby clubs, parish halls, and even the high security wing of Portlaoise prison. Now - after a season on the Edinburgh Fringe in 2000 - it has arrived at the West End's Duchess Theatre.

Amiable and entertaining though it certainly is, John Breen's play - which the author also directs - does not have quite the resonance or universal appeal of its fellow Irish sleeper hit, Stones in His Pocket. While the latter similarly progressed via a run on the Edinburgh Fringe to London's Tricycle and subsequently a West End run unbroken to this day, Alone...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com - 23 January 2002:

A thoroughly enjoyable, clever, well 'choreographed', inventive and funny show. I was unsure about the rugby theme but don't let that disuade you. This is as much about human relationships and spirit as sport. Highly recommend it if you want light-hearted entertainment that is less 'in your face' than many of the musicals and 'shows' around at the moment....

Read more and add your own review