STONES IN HIS POCKETS

STONES IN HIS POCKETS

at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford

09.09.2014

It's a long way from The Quiet Man to Game of Thrones, but here we have the chiselled features and sexy tones of Connor Delaney playing amongst many other roles, Wee Mickey, the last surviving extra on that classic John Ford movie.

Director Ian MacIlhenny is a Game of Thrones veteran too, but more importantly was responsible for the first ever Stones in His Pockets, nearly twenty years ago.

Like Bouncers, or Woman in Black, it's become a classic, at least in part because of the virtuoso performances it demands of its two actors. Delaney, and Stephen Jones [yet to appear in Game of Thrones] are wonderfully contrasted, and bring us in quick succession, a gallery of memorable characters, brought together in County Kerry. They switch voice and physique in an instant, turning, one walking behind the other, nipping into the wings for a swift costume change.

A quiet backwater has been invaded by a Hollywood blockbuster, with its flaky star, phlegmatic director, security, dialogue coach, and intern. Not to mention the cast of thousands, including Jake and Charlie, the two extras at the heart of this hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking, look at fame, fortune and the dream factory.

This is a warm, hugely enjoyable theatrical experience, easy to enjoy on many levels and on repeated viewings. Chelmsford was their first UK port of call – they're on the road now well into November !

STONES IN HIS POCKETS

STONES IN HIS POCKETS

at the Civic, Chelmsford

21.05.09

Stones in his Pockets has been showing for ten years, now. The lights go down, we listen to the flea-pit adverts, we stare at the cinemascope row of shoes beneath the screen.

Like thousands of audiences before us, we are here to marvel at the skills of the two actors [ David Caves and Patrick Kellner on this occasion, I think - someone forgot to put the programmes in the van...] who between them bring to life the stars, the villagers, the extras and the production team shooting The Quiet Valley in County Kerry. There’s Aisling, Third Assistant Director, and Simon her superior, John the weary dialogue coach, Jock from security, Caroline the glamorous leading lady, Clem, the English director, and Old Mickey, who remembers John Ford’s Quiet Man way back in '52.

Not to mention Charlie and Jake, the two extras, each with disappointments in his past and dreams for his future.

Though there are darker themes – exploitation and the fragility of aspirations – and tragedy – the suicide of Sean the local lad which gives the piece its title – “people don’t go to the cinema to be depressed, that’s what the theatre’s for”, and what we always take away is the tour-de-force that brings all these characters to life, turn, turn, and Simon becomes Caroline, Fin becomes Brother Gerard. And they all appear at once, it seems, in the Line Dance and the curtain calls at the end, as “the extras become the stars …”