Stones in His Pockets, Salisbury Playhouse Review
Shaun Blaney and Gerard McCabe in Stones In His Pockets. Photo by Alex Tabrizi
Written by Charlotte for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
Sometimes, not knowing a lot about a show before seeing it is the best way to go, and this production of the Stones in His Pockets — presented by Wiltshire Creative, Barn Theatre Cirencester and Octagon Theatre Bolton — is definitely one of those shows.
Sleepy Irish village County Kerry has been overrun by a Hollywood film crew shooting their next blockbuster—but behind the glamour of the silver screen, reality hits harder than expected, especially for two local extras Charlie Conlon (Gerard McCabe) and Jake Quinn (Shaun Blaney).
A cast of just two, McCabe and Blaney play 15 characters between them, turning the two-hour play into a dazzling whirlwind. The two rarely leave the stage, regularly shapeshifting into different characters with just the turn of a hat, the drop of a jacket, or with a piece of rope that becomes a walking stick. Multi-roling in this way takes an immense amount of talent to make the audience believe each character exists. McCabe and Blaney execute each and every character to perfection in a way that, to me, felt reminiscent of Andrew Scott’s astounding performance in National Theatre’s Vanya.
We’re first introduced to our two protagonists outside the catering truck on set of a new Irish blockbuster, and we learn more about them and their lives as the story unfolds. Jake has just returned from a short stint in the US where he tried to make it as an actor, and Charlie always carries a script based on his own life in the hope that it’ll find its way into the right person’s hands. Some other memorable characters include Mickey, a local actor in his seventies; American actress Caroline Giovanni, whose constant pouts and hair swishes have the audience in stitches; and Aisling, the film’s flamboyant assistant director who has little regard for anyone beneath her, particularly the local extras.
What starts as a series of lighthearted interactions between the characters as we’re introduced to them all becomes a story that is a lot darker as it explores mental health and the struggle of wanting to make it big in a small town. So much is packed into two hours, from desire and passion to rejection and loss, with a dose of high-energy Irish dancing mixed in for good measure.
The technical brilliance is also something that makes this production feel special. The set is simple, with clothes rails, props and projections being used to help set the scene. The lighting and visuals change at the same lightning pace as the actors switch character, and not one moment or technical decision feels unnecessary. It’s tight and sharp, and really makes the most of the magic that live theatre can offer.
This sensational, award-winning comedy thoroughly deserved its several-minute standing ovation, and it’ll leave you immediately wanting to book another ticket to see it again.
At Salisbury Playhouse until 19th October, then Octagon Theatre Bolton from 22nd October to 2nd November.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
