THIS DEBUT PLAY PACKS A PUNCH 17 YEARS ON

By Trisha Cusack ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

17 years after it first debuted, David Ireland’s ‘What the Animals Say’ takes to the stage at the Finborough Theatre. This 70-minute, two man show is a perfect snapshot of human nature, and its flaws and contradictions.

The show begins at the Stranraer ferry terminal, where we meet our leading men – Eddie, played by Robbie Martin, and Jimmy, played by Matthew Blaney. Tensions emerge from the jump with the socially awkward Jimmy being put off by Eddie’s loud and gauche phone conversation. When Eddie then engages in conversation, it is clear that Jimmy wants to be anywhere else.

The contrast between the pair goes deeper than disposition and personality. Jimmy is a struggling actor, hoping that his next audition will be his big break. Eddie, on the other hand, is a successful footballer. However, all is not sunshine and roses as he is experiencing a lot of backlash for playing for Celtic while being a Protestant. Upon realising they are old school classmates, the banter begins with pleasant reminiscences of their youth. The dialogue between the two brilliantly captures the knack Northern Irish people have for good, fast, and rhythmic conversation.

As the pair catches up, the conversation then sets itself up for the second part of the play. In the interest of avoiding spoilers, let’s just say this is where the tensions between Jimmy and Eddie return and reaches its climax. The catalyst for this tension and the developments that emerge are cleverly done, and ensures this short play packs a punch that leaves a lasting impact on the audience when the lights go down.

For a debut play, David Ireland’s ability to explore identity politics, the flaws of human nature and what people consider is owed to them, is extremely impressive. The glimmers of deeper subjects, such as the IRA and UVF, are well placed and avoids making it a political play, keeping the focus on the two men and their relationship.

As the show only has two characters, it is imperative that they are performed well. Robbie Martin is utterly believable as Eddie. He embodies the brash, ignorant, and offensive footballer with ease, delivering a charming fella that you can’t help but like despite the many problematic things that comes out of his mouth. We all know an Eddie in our lives.

Matthew Blaney’s Jimmy is less likeable – which is the point. A struggling artist, he is performative in his virtue signalling, easily agitated when Eddie calls him out on his hypocrisy. His character arc of being consumed by bitterness and jealousy towards Eddie is understandable, and Blaney captures this mental spiral with accuracy. The pair have a great chemistry on stage, putting the audience on edge as they wonder at what point their volatile “friendship” will take a turn.

At 70 minutes, the show strikes the balance of fitting in a lot, giving each plot point the right amount of depth, without leaving any loose threads. What I appreciated most was that the play doesn’t descend into real, dark violence – something one would expect given the context of the play. Yes, there is violence and plenty of content warnings but viewers will still leave with giggle. ‘What the Animals Say’ is, in short, the perfect play for a mid-week activity.

What The Animals Say is running at Finborough Theatre until Saturday 24 October.

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Photo Credit: Gavin Watson