Room - Abbey Theatre

It's been a few weeks since I went to see Room but I really don't want to leave it without saying even just a few words about it.

I am signed up to alerts from the Abbey and a couple of months ago when I got the email that Room was coming I immediately went on to their website and booked tickets for the last night.  I had read the book when it first came out, and then saw the film and although an awfully tough subject I enjoyed* them both so much I knew I wanted to see the play.  Also I had seen some great reviews of it - it was an English production that was coming to Ireland.

*I don't think "enjoy" is the correct word considering the subject but I really can't think of any other way of saying it.

Anyway, back to the play.  It was an emotional watch and I am not too proud to admit that I cried many times through it.  A testament to the writing and a testament to the cast.  The production was great - right down to the lighting and the set which were both very imaginative.  I do have to say that sometimes it is apparent when a production is from the UK as compared to an Irish production.  Not all the time I emphasise (the Irish do produce great theatre) but when it is better it is so much better.  This was the case with this play.  I honestly don't think any Irish actor could play Ma and play Little Jack as well as Whitney White and Taye Kassim Junaid-Evans did.

10/10

The Train, Abbey Theatre

Yesterday was Good Friday in Ireland, and while some businesses close unfortunately the part of the company I am currently working in does not - but however I chose to take the day off.  Which I am glad of. It's feeling like a very nice long weekend already and it's only Saturday.

Cousin Kasey, Enid and I met in my flat where I made some cocktails.  The (ridiculous) licencing laws in Ireland outlaws the sale of alcohol, and the Church says one should not drink on Good Friday.  On this basis I go out of my way to make sure I have a drink or two.  I really do not like being told what I can or can't do by the State - particularly when the State is being told that by the Church...  And ironically enough, this year, that ties in nicely with the theme of the play we saw later.

I had intended making a few different cocktails.  But in the end I was too busy chatting and we needed to leave earlier than intended to collect our tickets, so the pineapple dacquiris and ciproskas were scratched, and I just made Falling Waterfalls and vodka and diet cokes.

I've no photo of the food but it was LOVELY - thanks to Cousin Kasey for bringing!

From there we headed down to The Abbey to see The Train

This poster was up outside my office during the week

We had another quick drink before the start of the play - theatres are exempt from the licencing laws.  You see! Like it makes no sense at all.  Why is a theatre exempt but a pub is not?  Crazy. 

And I ordered our interval drinks.  Ok enough about alcohol on Good Friday, on to the play!!!

But first, a pic of Enid and I (posterity! posterity!)

The Train

It was wonderful! Absolutely wonderful.  Such an imaginative and creative way of telling the story of the contraceptive train, plus the Ireland as it was then - how much the church was involved in the "bedroom" of Irish families. 

The actors were excellent - and great singers - it is a musical afterall.  All in all a great production. 

AND at the very end a superb hat tip to #WakingTheFeminists (do you remember my blog post about the event I attended) and a call to action for more areas of women's lib where change is needed.  To be honest it did depress me that while there have been improvements of course (contraception, divorce, signing for loans without a man [bloody hell], removal of obligatory redundancy on marriage, equal pay) there are still remaining other areas where there is MASSIVE improvement needed - bodily autonomy for women being key of course.... #Repealthe8th.  While two years ago Enid and I did a lot of canvassing for Marriage Equality,  Enid had told me that she didn't think she could do it for a referendum for Repeal the 8th. That considering some of the stuff we encountered on the doorsteps (while mostly good, when it was bad, it was HORRIFIC), that she just thought it would be too emotive.  Anyway after last night she thinks she will do it.  I am happy about that - she was really good at it - but I want her to only do it if she wants to do it herself.