20 years ago an unknown playwright called Enda Walsh made his debut with a little play called Disco Pigs at the Corcadorca Theatre, Cork. A film, several literary awards and countless plays later Walsh is now a mainstay on the theatre scene and his play has returned to the Trafalgar Studios in a new production directed by John Haidar. The piece particularly suited the intimate setting of Studio 2.
Darren and Sinead have been together all their lives. Born just a minute apart they have been inseparable ever since. They are each other’s whole world, both fiercely protective of the other, and until now that has always been enough. So tightly entwined are they that their almost telepathic connection seems to be impenetrable.
This intense relationship has seen them through the tough years growing up in inner city Ireland but as they turn 17 adulthood seems to hit them square in the face, a blow neither is capable of handling.
Self-christened Pig (Colin Campbell) and Runt (Evanna Lynch), both refer to themselves in the third person. With thick accents, local colloquialisms and euphemisms abound at times the mental agility required to make sense of the verse-like language and rhythm distracts from the text itself. The physical is essential in setting the scene as the black box theatre and confusing dialogue does little to suspend an audience’s disbelief.
The rapid fire script is accompanied with two extremely physical, energetic performances. Campbell in particular seems barely to pause long enough to draw air. The show really shines in the physical – the lighting display, in particular the disco scenes, was stunning. Both actors move seamlessly, they form one breath and silent communication between them is flawless. The intimacy works well as a larger space may have swallowed the Lynch in particular and the uncomfortable closeness served well giving the actors a direct line into the audience.
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