REVIEW: Shrödinger's Bird presents The Importance of Being Earnest in Dundalk's Spirit Store
Review by Catrina Mc Dermott of The Importance of Being Earnest by Shrödinger's Bird Productions at the Spirit Store in Dundalk
A small, new theatre group calling itself Schrödinger's Bird truly deserves at least a mention in Dundalk's leading newspapers in praise of its impressive, stunning, courageous debut presentation of Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest, which aired at The Spirit Store on Thursday, the 9th of May, for one night only.
What! Never! Sheer madness!
With a clear, rare, illusive hit on his hands, its Director, Felikss Lapinskis, would be crazy to not take this production elsewhere while he and it are steaming hot, as it's well polished enough to present to discerning Dublin and accustomed theatre goers on a national scale.
Felikss's passion for the art form brought to a play with which audiences here are maybe overly familiar for sincere enthusiasm about going to it again a freshness which saw many leaving the venue on a genuine feelgood high - an extraordinary achievement.
Probably due to budget constraints, great care was obviously taken, and creativity used by all involved, with casting, costumes, iconic make-up and hairstyles, imaginative props and gorgeous lighting so that the production proved a sumptuous feast for the eyes.
And local young people and drama students gave a convincing performance of the play's colourful, upper-class characters of which the great Oscar himself would undoubtedly have warmly approved had he been there in the occasion.
Two children, ages 8 and 11, sitting close by were so enthralled by a play whose adult themes they were too young to follow and nuances they couldn't have understood that, while the younger did strain from time to time to see past taller heads, the starstruck eyes of both never once left a glittering stage on which a clever against-the-grain cast created real magic.
So altogether a stupendous, fascinating to the point of mesmeric in places, first amateur production by "just a group of friends," appropriately named in that they displayed true intelligent artistry and sensitivity well worthy of Wilde's wonderfully profound intellectual thinking and caring, humanitarian words.
The group showed great promise of many more entertaining, innovative theatrical performances to come for the town, and, indeed, for Ireland, if that's what they choose to do for their and our future.
Exceedingly well done! Schrodinger's Bird, and please keep on knocking us out and uplifting the spirits of your many friends and admirers for many years with the love that you showed us on that joyous evening.
Towards the end of life, it's such a comfort to know that Ireland and the world have such bright young stars emerging to hopefully keep the human family's caring, creative lights shining on and on and on....