Quirky play The Monster in the Hall is revived for Cuirt

The Monster in the Hall, by Scottish playwright, David Greig, directed by Andrew Flynn, will be presented in the city’s Nun’s Island Theatre from April 8-12.

It was first staged in the venue last week, performed by members the NUI Galway BA Connect in Theatre and Performance class, in what was its Irish premiere. According to Andrew Flynn, the response was so good, that it’s being revived for this year’s Cúirt Festival of Literature.

The Monster in the Hall, which was a hit at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival, is a low-budget indie comedy musical about a girl on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The action is performed by seven actors and a Ducati motorbike that goes vrrooommm.

The heroine of the piece is teenager Duck Macatarsney, who looks after biker dad, Duke. He has multiple sclerosis and it’s getting steadily worse.

Duke is a spliff smoking, bike riding, heavy metal, movie-loving, widower who has reared his daughter since her mother died in a motorbike crash when Duck was a baby.

The two of them are just about surviving when one morning Duke wakes up blind and Duck hears that the social services are coming to visit.

She is terrified they are going to take her away, and The Monster in the Hall tells her story, with pathos and hilarity, as she tries to protect her world from this awful prospect.

David Greig is one of Scotland’s most prolific and successful writers. His work includes the Galway Arts Festival hit, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Harte, and the West End hit musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

There are some excellent performances in this quirky production, while the sound and music is provided by Carl Kennedy and lighting design is by Mike O’Halloran.

• The Monster in the Hall will run at Nun’s Island Theatre from Tuesday 8 to Friday 11 April at 8pm with a Matinee on Saturday 12 April at 2pm. Tickets are €10 and are available at the door or from the Town Hall Theatre in person or on 091 569777.