Floodlit Belfast
I seen the Floodlit Belfast bus tour and thought as most of the buildings are around the city centre I’d just go for my own walk around and hopefully get a few camera opportunities. When I read floodlit I imagined things being lit up like daylight for some reason – a kind of lightshow spectacular. Turns out it was just Queen’s, City Hall, St Anne’s, etc in their usual relatively drab lights with their straight up angles. Left Stormont for another time.
National Anthem
On the final day of the festival I went for Colin Bateman’s National Anthem, a play that hits on the ludicrousies of what passes for current political life in Northern Ireland. I’m a big fan of Bateman, not just for the fact that he’s an incredibly funny writing talent, but also for the fact that his caustic wit reduces the self-absorbed world of the political spectrum here – media and politicians alike – to the comedy that too often remains unchallenged.
One thing that wasn’t comedy however was the steep 10% surcharge for booking online. My gut instinct is that companies pay for their expensive little ecommerce shopping carts this way. This isn’t 1998 anymore. However, the play.
George Best vs Bobby Sands, the Department of Thankyous and a National Animal – this may be his first play but it’s pure Bateman gold. Bateman was interviewed prior saying he found the medium challenging – unlike a book or screenplay he has to keep nailing the dialogue in order to keep a live audience interested. And he starts off all guns blazing – the exchange between the two main protagonists builds up a sense of the contradictory narrative various elements of NI have been spun up to where we are. The biting pace lessens into a more non-descript humour-in-vulgarity fare when the pair leave momentarily but returns for the twist in the tale.
One thing, all through the performance I was completely prepared for an ending with no anthem in sight. But unlike the society it gently mocks, there is no fudge from Bateman. The surprising thing is it’s actually a decent shot at something Northern Irish – with not a small hint of Windsor Park’s “We’ll Support You Evermore” about it – and I loved it when everyone was morally obliged to their feet, the usher bringing in the words on blackboard, and the cast blasted out a 2nd rendition of our anthem. Maybe they’re prone to dramatics but actor Alan McKee (Mouse in Divorcing Jack) definitely had something in his eye at the end.
Hoofing effort all round. Really enjoyed everything about this. Far from the tired old Hole in the Wall Group cliches – this was a sharp, funny description of the NI we live in today. Bateman needs to do more of everything he does, because I’ve yet to experience a peer in his field.
And the National Animal of NI?
Badger.
I laughed a bit too loud and sighed a bit too long with that, then looked round to see if anyone else was.
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