Performance
© Ridiculusmus 2008
Supported by:
Rick Jones, Time Out 1993
The Third Policeman
Reviewed by Rick Jones Time Out 6/1/92
Contrary to what the advance publicity says about this very eccentric show adapted from one of Flann O’Brien’s nuttier stories, they give a free glass of Wrastler stout not just to anyone who comes along with a working bicycle lamp, but to anyone who comes along full stop. This was annoying, not only because I had brought my halogen cat eye set along, but also because those with lamps are expected to help with the lighting and might have merited some reward. The Irishman and his lit or unlit bicycle is the play’s vague theme. This is a relationship apparently as personal, if not quite as intimate, as that of the fellow who recently fell in love with his family’s cuddly Austin Mini Metro, a story quoted in full in the programme. The comedy derives from the absurdity with which officialdom treats an object as humble and mundan as a bike, like the ludicrously lengthy A4 form for the recording of larcenies in respect of pedal cycles. The story for what its worth, concerns the long quest of Yer man (Kevin Henshall) to find a certain black money box. It is played out without announcement in and around the bar where the audience is sitting, standing, dancing to and listening to ( free stouts in hand) Henshall’s penny whistle jigs. Its illogical and daft but indisputably entertaining and full of suggested resolutions from O’Brien’s strange imagination. Answer no to all questions, take left turns as much as possible and never apply your front brake first.
Very sound advice for 1993.
Related pages:
.. Ian Shuttleworth, London 1992 .. Chris Murray, What's On 1992