James Joyce’s Dubliners: Counterparts and A Little Cloud – Bewley’s Cafe Theatre – Review
by Frank L.

Dates – June 24th – July 20, 2024 at 1pm

The set is simple with the walls painted a dark green, a wooden table and an upright dining chair, all of which are suitable for an Edwardian interior. To the side of the stage sits a keyboard player (Feilimidh Nunan) and a clarinettist (Conor Sheil). They are playing as the audience assembles and add considerably to the ambience in the theatre.

Liam Hourican in “A Little Cloud” plays all parts in the story of Little Chandler and his humdrum existence as a clerk in the King’s Inns. Eight long years have passed since his friend Gallaher left for London where he has succeeded on the London Press. At the end of the working day, Little Chandler travels to Corless’s to meet Gallaher. Hourican describes Dublin as Little Chandler makes his way to Corless’s where the waiters spoke French and German and the ladies wore “noisy dresses and many wraps”. Hourican captures deftly the brash confidence of Gallaher and the diffidence of Little Chandler as they reacquaint. It is an encounter which shows markedly the difference in their lives and expectations that those intervening years have brought about. Hourican evokes assuredly the essence of both characters. He is equally assured when Little Chandler returns to his wife Annie and their infant child. The crying and squawking of the unhappily awoken child is engagingly evoked by Sheil on the clarinet.

After a brief interval “Counterparts” begins using the same set. It continues the theme of the dreariness of the work of a clerk. This time it is the put-upon Farrington (Jim Roche) whose nemesis is his immediate boss Mr. Alleyne who has a “piercing North of Ireland accent”. Farrington’s suitability as a clerk is questionable as his penchant for a drink is never in doubt. So before he attempts to carry out the dreary task Mr Alleyne requires, he decides “to slake the thirst in his throat”. Drink is his downfall, but his relationships with Mr Alleyne, along with a motley crew of drinking pals and his son Tom are finely realised by Roche.

Throughout both pieces, the mood is intensified by the musical accompaniment of Nunan and Sheil. The production is a collaboration between Bewley’s Cafe Theatre and Volta in association with The James Joyce Centre with Hourican and Roche being responsible for the adaptation and direction. It was an enthralling hour of theatre.

CAST AND CREW:

PERFORMED BY: Jim Roche and Liam Hourican
ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY: Jim Roche and Liam Hourican
KEYBOARD AND VIOLIN: Feilimidh Nunan
CLARINET: Conor Shiel
PHOTOGRAPHY: Malcolm McGettigan