Review: Theatre

Gulliver’s Travels, Everyman, Cork

This abridged adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s 18th century satire performed by the National Youth Theatre is very much to the point, reducing the writer’s book to its most important scenes. But before Gulliver sets sail to Lilliput, the audience is momentarily all at sea when a group of teenagers, in the auditorium, start making noise. Mobile phones go off. This is all part of the show. Conor Lenihan, on piano, playing Handel, admonishes the youngsters. And then, the ghost of Swift appears, calling the teenagers a bunch of Yahoos. Luke Casserly, as the writer, is overbearing and full of spleen.

This post-dramatic intervention is a neat way of helping the audience to suspend disbelief. What ensues is a fine ensemble piece with a cast of 16 young people who bring energy and some fun to this production, directed by Conall Morrison. The actors are also musicians and, when Gulliver is being portrayed as a tiny character amid the giants he later visits, cast members are called upon to operate a tiny puppet.

When he lands in Lilliput, Gulliver, played by James O’Neill, is projected onto a screen, making him look huge compared to the natives. He is of course the subject of fascination, much of which is rooted in his bodily emissions. The level of scatology is extreme, with a particularly revolting video scene depicting the contents of Gulliver’s bowel.

When Gulliver is called on to destroy the Big Enders – enemies of the Lilliputians – he asks why they hate these people so much. In true self-protecting fashion, various Lilliputians pass the buck until eventually a woman says that only a spy would ask such a question. Nobody will put themselves on the line as they’re too politically savvy. At this point, Gulliver is played by Adrian McCarthy.

Satirical comments resonate today, such as the utterance that “our treasury is a model of prudent practice.” This fast-paced production ends on a philosophical note with lessons in life having been learnt to the extent that Swift declares himself a fool.

Star Rating: 4/5