Ireland in 1940 saw the Local Security Force on guard for any unwanted visitors to their shores. Paddy(Paul Murphy) is one of these men. However, he is busy with the important things in life, making a good cup of tea (with a generous splash of whisky) and trying to rid the radio of the voice of Churchill in Stuart D Lee’s Dev’s Army, writes Susan Hallissey…
Murphy maintains a high level of energy throughout this piece. His apprentice is the young, dim-witted Michael (Eoin McAndrew) whose sole interest is in films and the thought of using a gun. There is lovely chemistry between the two and some touching comic moments as Paddy winds him up mercilessly.
With a one-wheeled bicycle and a single bullet gun, these are the men who will guard the shores for safety. When Dermot (Nick Danan) returns from patrol the tensions rise.
Paddy has made it clear that his loyalties lie with the ‘Emergency’ rather than the war, as he pays homage to the portrait of Eamon de Valera, the Irish president at the time, placed centre front on the wall.
Dermot fought in the First World War and his opinions differ greatly from those of Paddy’s, who claims to have been part of the Easter Rising in 1916. Their response to the threat of the Germans are worlds apart and it becomes clear that poor Michael is caught in the middle. It seems his only dream is to get his hand on a gun and shoot Cagney-style at anyone.
When a mysterious stranger is swept up on their shores the mind games begin and Paddy’s ghostly stories he had been telling the gullible Michael earlier fade away.
The shed where the men stay is an ingenious design piece from Phil Newman. The use of space on a small stage is inventive too, so hats off to director Helen Niland and fight director Bret Yount.
The Irish position of neutrality during the war is thrashed about the stage and the Irish issue, with all its complexities is raised. The rapid dialogue at the end regarding where each individual stands is extremely thought-provoking.
With a neat little final twist and a somewhat Shakespearian escape scene to tie up the pieces, it felt a little panicked. However, you don’t need to be Irish to enter this parlour – or shed!
The Bread and Roses Theatre, Clapham until 19th March.
Booking: https://www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk/whats-on.html