Written by John O’Donovan
Directed
by Joel Horwood
Everyman
Theatre production, ACTHub Theatre, Kingston to May 24
Reviewed by Len Power 14 May 2025
It’s Halloween and Mikey and Casey are stuck on a roof after robbing a petrol station in a small town in the west of Ireland.
Mikey is a tough young Irishman. Always ready for a fight, he’s also at war with himself. He might be gay, but he’s not comfortable with other gay men of his age nor with the quietly homophobic society around him.
Casey is a younger gay Englishman living in Ireland. He is still closeted but has strong feelings for Mikey. He’s gentler and more sensitive than Mikey but better able to express affection.
As they wait for the Guards to stop circling the house, they have the time to confront a few truths about themselves, each other and the society they are part of.
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| Joshua James (Casey) and Robert Kjellgren (Mikey) |
Robert Kjellgren as Mikey gives a strong, energetic performance, prowling the roof like a caged animal. As Casey, Joshua James brings an appealing warmth and sensitivity to the role. Both actors convincingly give their roles a sense that they probably don’t have much chance of happiness together or even much of a future.
Director, Joel Horwood, keeps the action moving well in the limited playing area of the roof and has obtained deeply observed characterizations from the cast.
Unfortunately, a lot of dialogue on opening night was not clear or audible enough. With accents to contend with and the rapidity of the dialogue, it was a strain at times to pick up what was being said.
These young men were interesting characters, and the play had a lot to say about a society that can change laws but not the minds of the people. Maybe it was because of the difficulty in following the dialogue, but the ending of the play was not as moving as might have been expected.
Photo by Ben Appleton – Photox Canberra
This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 15 May 2025.
Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.
