Falling To Earth – My Summer with Bowie – Dublin Theatre Festival – Review

Verdant Productions and The Civic – Falling To Earth – My Summer with Bowie
By Eugene O’Brien

Find out more on the Civic Theatre Website here.

Séan Kelly (Stephen Jones), or Scut as he is known, is a young man living in the midlands of Ireland. He didn’t have the easiest childhood, as his parents struggled to get along. He spent his teenage years listening to the albums of David Bowie in his bedroom. In recent years, his mother died and he’s caring for his elderly father. He was never great in school and he works a variety of odd jobs to get by. He’s offered a well-paid security job at short notice. The job is at a mansion with a recording studio attached. After a short time, he meets the man they are working for, a tall, lean man with an English accent. After a brief conversation, Scut starts to think this stranger could be the man he idolised for many years…

This play is written by Eugene O’Brien, and it is something of a departure for him. O’Brien is known for writing Pure Mule for television, the well-loved series that ran between 2004–2005 and was shot in county Offaly. In the world of theatre, his play Eden premiered at the Peacock in Dublin in 2001, before travelling to the West End of London and Broadway. In more recent times, his play Heaven was part of the Dublin Theatre Festival last year and went on to win Best New Play at the Irish Times Theatre Awards.

This is a one-man show starring Stephen Jones. Jones is a regular on stage around Ireland and his booming voice more than filled the small venue, holding the attention of the audience throughout. He portrays Scut as a decent but flawed man. The focus of Scut’s attention is Karen, who works at the local pharmacy. He’s watched her from afar for many years but she is little more than acquaintance. Throughout the summer, he aims to win her heart.

The stage is mostly bare, with a backdrop of a collection of album covers from David Bowie along with records. There are a couple of wooden blocks that Stephen moves around to form the various items of furniture required, but this is a stripped-down production that could easily tour.

The story is a flight of fancy, an unlikely story of a brush with one of the most famous men in the world. Eugene O’Brien is extremely good at creating characters from small-town Ireland and this production is no different as we see the nightlife and eccentric individuals from the town. It’s a warm and funny portrayal of life in small-town Ireland, that shows these individuals warts and all. Stephen Jones puts great energy into the script and makes the character of Scut his own.

Directed by Jim Nolan
Performed by Stephen Jones