We weren’t too sure what to expect from Sean O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock, although given it’s billed as “the Irish masterpiece” and has arrived in London’s glittering West End with a big name cast, we had fairly high expectations. So does it live up to them?
First of all – a bit about the play itself. It is now a hundred years old: set in Dublin during 1922, it tells the story of the fight for Irish independence through a selection of working class lives. It’s an interesting premise for a play, and with Mark Rylance (who won an Olivier for Jerusalem) and J Smith-Cameron (adored by many as girl boss Gerri from Succession) in the leading roles, it seems like a recipe for success. Throw renowned director Matthew Warchus and wonderful producer Sonia Freedman into the mix – what could go wrong?
Well, something doesn’t quite feel right here – there’s a lot going on and it doesn’t gel particularly coherently. It’s a tragicomedy, but the tragedy and the comedy don’t sit together at all well, given how ludicrously farcical and slapstick some of the comedy is – it grates against the more poignant moments. We’re not entirely sure the musical elements work, either – they’re a fun diversion but often feel quite random and unnecessary.
It does make some good observations. In particular we enjoyed the idea that people don’t change – Rylance’s ridiculous “Captain” Jack Boyle is an awful person at the start of the play and, with the news of a surprise inheritance, remains utterly repugnant (just with slightly nicer furniture). The play does have a fair number of good lines and a handful of enjoyable set pieces, and it’s great to see J Smith-Cameron (who is in fine form) on the West End stage.
However, Juno and the Paycock is very much an example of a show that never adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Yes, it has some great acting, it lands some points well and there are humorous moments throughout – but it never comes together cohesively. We enjoyed our evening at the theatre, but we were expecting more.
GAY TIMES gives Juno and the Paycock – 3/5
More information can be found here.
Latest
