Howl!
Howl! It’s a clever title, implying, first up, that this festive romp is an occasion for unfettered hilarity. It also hints of sinister goings on in a forest, involving a ferocious, hairy creature and a girl in a scarlet cloak. But queasier connotations emerge too, focused on those human wolves who get a kick out of leering at exploitable young women.
Doireann McKenna, Alan McKee and Conor Grimes in Howl! at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast Photo: Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye
In this panto within a play, that wolf is Patrick (Conor Grimes), a dramatist/director, intent on imposing his dubious charms upon wide-eyed leading lady Jackie (Doireann McKenna), to the distaste of his old friend and womanising thespian Johnny (Alan McKee), his unhinged ex-wife Siobhan (Maria Connolly) and spaced-out musical guru Dex (Ciaran Nolan).
Grimes and McKee are talented comic actors and writers, greatly loved by the Northern Ireland public. But here much of the laughter seems to stem more from personal recognition than from the strong comedy of which they are capable. Director John Hoggarth has his work cut out in attempting to shape this madcap send-up of the traditional pantomime, which could all add up to a bit of harmless, anarchic fun, if it were not for those predatory overtones.
Production information
Lyric Theatre, Belfast, November 20-January 2
- Authors:
- Conor Grimes, Alan McKee
- Director:
- John Hoggarth
- Producer:
- Lyric Theatre
- Cast:
- Conor Grimes, Alan McKee, Maria Connolly, Doireann McKenna, Ciaran Nolan
- Running time:
- 2hrs
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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