Part of what is becoming Stones in His Pockets’ enduring success must lie in the virtuosity of the performers in the two lead roles - combining mime, comedy and a dazzling, kaleidoscopic switching of characters.
For the run at the New Ambassadors Degas and Lee have a tangible chemistry - essential if the relationships between the various characters they portray are to be believed. Lee has just completed a year playing Jake Quinn - the local with dreams of escaping dead-end village life - but even with this experience it can only help having someone of the quality of Degas playing opposite him.
Both give totally absorbing performances. Belief is suspended on the strongest of threads as they switch between the characters playing extras in the big Hollywood movie being filmed in their small Irish community and the Yanks populated the movie’s set. Their sense of timing, both in delivery, and in the switching of roles is exquisite - it is a real masterclass in so many different aspects of theatre.
Of course, Jones perfectly constructed script helps. Structurally she gives each character their own distinctive way of talking, aiding the actors no end, and has an instinctive feel for pathos, knowing when to suspend and inject humour even in the most moving scenes. Moments where the play is in danger of tumbling into self pity are avoided by an the characters’ awareness of their tendencies to whinge.
McElhinney’s direction allows the action to flow. In fact, ‘fluid’, palatable and easy to swallow is the best way to describe this production. Like a good malt whiskey.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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