Breaking News

Study reveals health of Travellers 02/09/10
Nurses pulls out of HSE talks 02/09/10
Cavan man named as one of NYC's ‘worst landlords' 02/09/10
Stricter rules for learner drivers 02/09/10
Funeral today of murdered schoolgirl 02/09/10
Criminal Traynor arrested near Amsterdam 02/09/10

Greta Garbo Came To Donegal

Frank Mcguinness' new offering at The Tricycle, London By Shelley Marsden - 19/01/10

The screen idol famed for her solitary tendencies is the centrepiece in Frank McGuinness’s neo-Chekovian play (picnics in the country, property troubles?), in the highly unlikely setting of Donegal. The catalyst to the inherent problems of a divided Irish family, and a gay couple, Swedish actress Garbo seems incongruous at first, but is soon strangely involved in the action.

Here, Garbo, the “great gloomy Swede” as she deprecatingly describes

herself, wafts into Donegal in ’67 (the playwright’s poetic licence, as she came in the early 70s) following an invite by gay English painter Matthew, who is shacked up in his country manner with his lover, an East End boxer.

The house they lounge around in once belonged to the Hennessy family, who now serve the two men in it. It is on the family that Garbo impacts the most; she is fascinated by the independent spirit of daughter Colette who wants to study medicine despite her humble background, and attracted also sexually it would seem to Paulie her aunt, the housekeeper whose repressed nature seems a deliberate echo of actress Michelle Fairley’s recent role in Friel’s Dancing At Lughnasa at the Old Vic.

McGuinness’ depiction of Ireland at boiling point, on the cusp of the Troubles, is paid lip service to, but the more successful tension is that between family members, particular the warring married couple, played by Owen O’Neill and Angeline Ball.

The most impressive and resonating aspect of this play, perhaps fittingly, is the

performance of American Caroline Lagerfelt as Garbo – and McGuinness’ ability to place her in such an entirely odd setting and pull it off. Her irony, poise, quiet

judgement and aloof demeanour conceal a woman that understands volumes, and has plenty of emotions of her own to keep in check.

Runs until 20 February, Box office 0207 328 1000.