Review
The Threepenny Opera is brash, lewd and earthy
and has a distinctly left-wing political
agenda. Thankfully, this new production at the
Gate honours Bertolt Brecht’s intentions (it
is worth remembering that Kurt Weill, Brecht’s
musical collaborator, did not quite share his
communist sympathies).
The work has been updated for a contemporary
Irish audience, but remains true to Brecht’s
vision of a 19th century London where the
amorality of the rich is really no different
to that of the lower classes — when Mack the
Knife dreams of leaving a life of crime, he
believes his experience as a thief best
qualifies him for a career as a banker.
It is hard to tell who is the bigger villain
of the piece, Mack or Mr Peachum. Mack is
leader of a gang of cut-throats and burglars,
while Mr Peachum manipulates a company of
beggars. When Mack seduces his daughter Polly,
Mr Peachum swears revenge, betraying the
younger criminal to the law in the hope that
he will hang. But Mack is no better; he
secretly plans to betray his gang to the
police as well.
The Threepenny Opera revels in its underworld
setting; gangsters rub shoulders with
prostitutes and crooked policemen. In this
production, there is no real distinction
between the good guys and the bad — the
characters, whether dressed in tuxedoes or
rags, all wear black.
The nihilism at the heart of Brecht’s libretto
finds eloquent expression in the big musical
numbers, and is nowhere more pronounced than
on ‘What Keeps Mankind Alive?’, which asserts
that our survival depends on brute force and
utter ruthlessness. It is no coincidence that,
mere years after The Threepenny Opera was
first produced in Berlin in 1928, Brecht and
Weill fled Germany, fearing Nazi prosecution.
The ending — in which Mack is saved from
hanging by a last-minute pardon from the king
— is ridiculous, of course, but is true to the
spirit of John Gay’s The Beggars’ Opera, the
great populist work of the 18th century that
inspired Brecht and Weill in the first place.
Even at three hours, The Threepenny Opera
holds the attention. Under Wayne Jordan’s
direction, there is never a dull moment. Mark
O’Regan and David Ganly excel as Mr Peachum
and Mack the Knife, while Jackie Marks hits
just the right note as the long-suffering Mrs
Peachum and Charlotte McCurry plays Polly with
the appropriate mixture of naivety and
cunning.
Star Rating: 4/5
Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
Tonight: The Gare St Lazare Players present Samuel Beckett’s classic play, starring Conor Lovett and directed by Judy Hegarty Lovett. gaietytheatre.ie
The O2, Dublin
Tonight: Through his solo work and many collaborations, the artist formerly known as Peter Gene Hernandez is well on his way to selling his first 60 million singles. brunomars.com
Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin
Friday: Eugene O’Neill’s 1924 play explores such themes as familial jealousy, infidelity and infanticide. This new production is presented by The Corn Exchange for Dublin Theatre Festival. smockalley.com
The Culture Box, Dublin
FRIDAY: Rough Magic present a contemporary take on Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 1779 burlesque of the joys and follies of theatre-making.
roughmagic.ie
The O2, Dublin
Sunday: The multi-Grammy Award winner and hip hop legend is touring his 12th studio album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. lifeandtimes.com
