The House Must Win – Pavilion Theatre – Review
by Frank L

Rosa Productions & Pavilion Theatre present The World Premiere of The House Must Win by Mick Flannery

Approx. Duration: 140mins (incl. interval)
Dates – Thu 16 Apr – Sun 3 May

The House Must Win – written and composed by Mick Flannery

The programme states on its cover that the musical is based on Flannery’s album “Evening Train”. Twenty years ago, in response to a college assignment to “write a musical”. He did, but focused solely on the lyrics and the music. Twenty years on, after various workshops and iterations, he has written the script and added to the eleven original songs, ten new ones, in order to create “The House Must Win”.

There is a seven-piece band led by Killian Browne on the piano, supported by Dominic Mullan (percussion), Niamh Varian-Barry (Violin and Viola), Dan Bodwell (Double Bass),  Alan Comerford (Guitars and Auto harp) and Matthew Berrill (Reeds and Horn), and this fine ensemble is at the heart of the production. Its centrality is heightened by the fact that it is on stage and visible.

The architecture of the set (Ciaran Bagnall) is dominated by a sweeping ascending ramp, which curves around the stage and creates a space for the band with the piano closest to the audience. At the apex of the ascending ramp, which has a fairly steep gradient, there is a platform with a spiral staircase which descends to the stage. The floor of the stage is on two levels. On the upper level, there is the counter of a pub and on the lower level is a table and a couple of chairs. The table doubles as the site of various domestic scenes and as the table at which poker is played.

Photo Credit: Ruth Medjber

At the centre of the story are two brothers, Frank (Niall McNamee) and Luther (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) and a girl, Grace (Tabitha Smyth). Both of the brothers are emotionally entangled with her to various degrees. She is the daughter of Ray (Tommy Tiernan), the owner of the pub, where John works. Frank and Luther have been brought up by their mother, Sarah (Orlagh de Bhaldraithe). There are two additional local characters, John (Damian Kearney), who is too fond of the drink and Paulie (John McCarthy), who has received promotion to manager in the local bank, and has notions as regards Grace. There is little happening in the town, and one of the major forms of diversion is the game of poker. The town is in decline, and the local train station is about to be closed. Frank wants to get out. Luther is incapable of being that decisive in his downward spiral, and Grace is haunted by the spectre of her lost mother. The family back stories of the two brothers and of Grace reveal dysfunctional families.

The music of Mick Flannery is at the centre of the production. Smyth is beguiling as Grace, and she has a voice which is pure and ideally suits the part.  McNamee and Walsh- Peelo are both vocally strong and convincing as each of the two brothers, as is de Bhaldraithe as their mother. Tommy Tiernan has many skills, but singing is not one of them! His other attributes of acting and fine comic timing are on display to good effect. McCarthy has the difficult challenge of playing the depressingly conservative local bank manager, which he carries off, while Kearney has a ball, particularly when he is inebriated.

Vast sums of money are spent on producing a musical involving teams of writers and lyricists. Here, a small gifted group of creatives have combined to create an entertainment with passion. It shows what can be achieved with talent on what is a minuscule scale for a musical. The twenty years that the musical has been in gestation have been put to good use. Flannery and his team of creatives are to be congratulated on bringing it to fruition.

Photo Credit: Ruth Medjber

Music & Book: Mick Flannery
Directed by Julie Kelleher
Musical Supervisor: Liam Robinson
Set & Lighting Design: Ciarán Bagnall

Cast:
Tommy Tiernan
Tabitha Smyth
Ferdia Walsh-Peelo
Niall McNamee
John McCarthy
Orlagh De Bhaldraithe
Damian Kearney

Live Band:
Killian Browne – Piano + Musical Director
Dominic Mullan – Drums and Percussion
Dan Bodwell – Double Bass
Matthew Berrill – Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax and Hōz Hôrn
Alan Comerfor – Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Autoharp
Niamh Varian-Barry – Violin & Viola
Lucia Partlin – Deputy Violin & Viola