Review: Love, Peace and Robbery Heritage Centre, Bere Island

Although originally performed in 2007, an audience unfamiliar with the history of Love, Peace and Robbery would be forgiven for thinking it was a new offering — it still sounds fresh and relevant today. The play, by Irish Examiner court reporter Liam Heylin, rounded up the month-long West Cork Fit-up Festival.

Shane Casey and Aidan O’Hare play ex-cons trying to nail the elusive ‘last ever job’ to accrue some quick cash, while Ciarán Bermingham plays a host of characters.

Casey plays Darren, a young hot-head who befriends ‘hardened’ thief Gary, and tries to convince him that a final post office robbery will net them enough funds for Darren’s bid to win back his ex-girlfriend, and pay for Gary to send his young lad to Old Trafford.

Darren’s imagined conversation with his beloved dog, Heskey, after one spliff too many is a delight and versatile actor Ciarán Bermingham puts his talent for quick character changes to good use, appearing as Gary’s love interest Margaret, a teenage neighbour, a prim post office clerk, Gary’s disgruntled son and a quick-witted garda sergeant.

The Fit-Up Festival brought four productions to small communities in West Cork, including three islands — Bere, Heir and Sherkin — this summer. Heylin’s well-observed commentary is suited to the intimate venues. The playwright allows the sense of inevitable disaster to build gradually, as the boyos set their ambitious plan in motion. When the big day finally comes, the audience is left in little doubt that this will not end well.

The interrogation scene with Bermingham as the unforgiving garda is wonderfully choreographed and lit. When the ‘reveal’ eventually comes, it’s a satisfying end to a very entertaining 75 minutes.

While it’s hard to fault any performance, Corkman Casey stands out for his ‘owning’ of the role of Darren and the Cork city lingo.

With the audience mixing with the cast on the ferry back to Castletownbere, discussing the production at length, there was a wonderful sense that Blood in the Alley’s vision of theatre that reaches out to all corners of the community had been well and truly realised. Roll on, the 2014 Fit-Up.

Star rating: 4/5