Theatre Reviews of the Year
Some end of year comments from theatre reviewers:
‘Two revivals at the Abbey were notable as serious pieces of theatre in the literary genre for which the theatre was founded. One was a compelling production of Marina Carr’s On Raftery’s Hill. A journey into sordid nightmare, it was intensely directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, with stunning performances from Lorcan Crannitch and Maeve Fitzgerald as a father and daughter living in self-imposed degradation and horror.
The other was the Lyric production of Double Cross at the Peacock, Thomas Kilroy’s almost glittering examination of the psychosis of nationalism and the Irish pre-occupation with a mythical sense of national 
consciousness against the backgrounds of two men who rejected Ireland (Brendan Bracken, Churchill’s wartime minister for information and William Joyce, Lord Haw Haw). It was what theatre should be about, and all too often is not: intriguing, stimulating and entertaining.’ — Emer O’Kelly, Sunday Independent
‘Caitríona McLaughlin’s striking and pummelling revival of Marina Carr’s On Raftery’s Hill could only be faulted for the brevity of its run.’ — Peter Crawley, The Irish Times
On Raftery’s Hill and Double Cross are available from The Gallery Press.
