‘Ireland, the Continuous past’
Rough Magic Theatre Company’s Northern Star is an interesting take on a short period of late eighteenth century Irish History which undoubtedly still reverberates to this day. The play follows the final days of Henry Joy McCracken, a Presbyterian United Irishman, hiding out on the Cavehill with his lover and young baby. Six of the cast of eight actors multirole – four at various times taking on the role of McCracken himself – actress Ali White particularly impressive as the bombastic idealist.
The style is deliberately theatrical, playing out on Zia Holly’s impressive set, suggesting the wings and backstage area of a theatre. The modern dress of the actors is at various times augmented by pieces of period costume – a comment on the fact that we are still wearing the attitudes and playing out the same old religious prejudices that were, in part, the cause of the failure of McCracken’s rebellion 225 years ago. The addition of drums, voice, tin whistle, flute and plucked strings on a broken piano were expertly employed to created atmosphere and suspense, and Stuart Parker’s dialogue zipped along confidently, with frequent moments of humour and pathos.
A noose hangs over the stage from the start to finish of this tale of conflict and morality. The play was well received by the audience who left the theatre with the feeling that this performance of politics and power would continue to run long after McCracken’s inevitable death.
Northern Star is on at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre until 29th May, for more information or to book tickets, click here.
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