Vernon God Little – Decadent Theatre company – Review by Audrey Devereux

Vernon God Little, a novel, by DBC Pierre won the Man Booker prize in 2003, a chillingly, darkly satirical tale of mass murder and the media, this is one of two adaptations of the novel for the stage, this version written by Tanya Ronder, was chosen by Decadent for their current touring production.

Set in Martirio, Texas the eponymous anti-hero, 15-year-old Vernon G. Little, struggles in the chaotic aftermath of a horrific High School massacre; gradually the finger of blame turns to him, as the only survivor and the best friend of the dead teenage classmate and gun-man, one Jesus Navarro: so ‘’normal’ just ran howlin’ from town’. Vernon grapples with his conscience as he refuses to reveal his family’s one secret that could lead to his exoneration and release from Death Row.

In the nightmarishly cartoonish small town of Martirio this play encompasses everything from trial by media to gun laws, domestic violence and the death penalty all to a fantastically lazy, live Blue Grass 3 piece accompaniment playing covers of Johnny Cash songs. The writing and tone is a bit like what would happen if the Coen Brothers and Wes Anderson jammed with Martin McDonagh in some rehearsal room one sultry, dark night in Texas.

The 8-strong ensemble cast play all 29 characters with impeccable energy, ingenuity and flare, not one of those deliciously drawly Southern accents missing a beat, with Jarlath Tivnan giving an enthralling, harrowing and sometimes hilarious performance as Vernon Little. Directing with scalpel-like precision, Andrew Flynn plays to his cast’s strengths and make deft use of the minimal, desert-like set that is one minute a bus bound for Mexico, the next an execution chamber.

Running at 2 hours long the play could have used a dramaturge’s scalpel as parts of the play seem over written-some story lines within in the play get more air time than others: Vernon’s adventures in Mexico, while a delight, weren’t really necessary. The story also sometimes strays into stereotypical territory, Vernon’s Dad turns out to have been abusive and his Mom a flake. Overall the story doesn’t make any startlingly new observations on the terrifying yet all too familiar phenomenon of a teenager opening fire on classmates and then turning the gun on himself; Vernon’s ultimate fate is entirely too convenient, way too ‘Hollywood’.

But does that really matter? What matters is the subject-matter is on stage in the first place. The audience gave Vernon God Little a standing ovation, the performances of cast and band alone were worth that, even if the play itself doesn’t quite stand up.

Cast List –

Jarlath Tivnan – Vernon Little
John Nee
Kate Murray
Eilish McCarthy
Tara Finn
Peter Shine
Tracey Bruen
Eanna O’Dowd
Emily Donoghue – Musician
Eoin Donoghue – Musician
Conan Kilcoyne – Musician

Vernon God Little Tour Dates
Galway Town Hall Theatre
4 – 12 September

Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise
15 September

Mill Theatre, Dundrum
16 – 17 September

The Everyman, Cork
21 – 26 September

Siamsa Tire, Tralee
30 September

Glor, Ennis
1 October

Garter Lane, Waterford
2 – 3 October

Hawkswell, Sligo
7 October

An Grianan, Letterkenny
8 October

Ballina Arts Centre, Mayo
9 October

Backstage Theatre, Longford
10 October

The Watergate, Kilkenny
15 – 17 October

Pavilion Theatre, Dublin
21 October

Civic Theatre, Tallaght
22 – 23 October

Iontas, Castleblaney
24 October

Lyric Theatre, Belfast
3 – 8 November