Alone It Stands

I loved this play - a true story of the 1978 rugby union match between the local Irish side, Munster, and the New Zealand All Blacks which found the local side winning. It was the only match the All Blacks lost that season. A professional Irish company toured Australia with the play about eight years ago, but this was the first community theatre production. The cast of seven played 62 characters during the course of the piece; everything from children, to the Irish and Kiwi teams, the fans, the referee, a dog and even the football itself.

Director Leo Bradley has done the playwright proud mounting a fast-paced physical production that instantly captured the sporting milieu. His choreography of the various scrums was a riot of fun. At times it reminded me of a Simon Pegg movie with its funny and flawed characters.

In an ensemble cast it was hard to pick favourites, but Stephen O’Grady was the perfect father-to-be and very believable as one of the team. Gary Conwell also shone in many roles but was nicely effective as the son whose father has just died. In everything from a cabbie, player, to a 14 year-old kid with a penchant for bonfires, Brent Schon stood out, likewise Lucy Moxon as the mother giving birth. Rahul Fernandes, Sarah Reinking and newcomer Alex Walsh also generated laughs when they were playing kids, the ball or a dog

 In the first act each cast member was dressed in black rugby shorts and sweaters as the All Blacks, while the second had them dressed as the Irish team in red. Leo Bradley’s set with its few benches and green floor aptly set the scene, and having the All Blacks do their haka and the Irish sing their anthem added a nice authentic touch. You did not have to be a rugby or sporting fan to enjoy this quirky and lovable play.

Peter Pinne

Images: Ian Colley Photography.