NOSTALGIA is back in fashion, and if you want a slice of 1980s Dublin humour, check out ‘The Snapper’ at the Gate Theatre.
Actually make that a few slices, in fact a whole cake, if not an entire bakery.
Roddy Doyle is, of course, the genius behind the Barrytown Trilogy of books which began with ‘The Commitments’, continued with ‘The Snapper’ and ended with ‘The Van’.
All three were released to great public and critical acclaim before later being turned into popular movies. The latest transformation sees the middle child taking to the stage in a rebirth of the much-loved franchise.
The story is a simple one of young Sharon Rabbitte, who finds herself pregnant with the child (snapper) of an older man.
The pregnancy is unplanned and in many ways unwanted, a story that couldn’t be more relevant in modern day Ireland.
But this tale isn’t one to divide opinions or create debate, it’s simply a mechanism for Doyle to unleash his biting wit and razor sharp humour.
Make no mistake, if you go to experience ‘The Snapper’, it’s for a night of belly laughs that will leave you aching the next day, if not literally rolling in the aisles. Ok, not literally.
Hazel Clifford stars as young Sharon, and it’s her responsibility to carry not only the baby but also the drama of the piece, something she does very well. Hilda Fay stars as Sharon’s mother Veronica and Simon Delaney as her father, the irrepressible Jimmy Sr.
While the cast are universally strong, Delaney steals the show in a comedy masterclass that will keep you laughing all night.
In fairness it’s hard to go wrong delivering Doyle’s delectable dialogue that’s so on the money, it will whisk you back to 1980s Coolock in an instant.
Perhaps those living in leafy Foxrock will scratch their heads at a Dublin they never knew, but for the rest of us, this is just so relatable.
For a cracking night out, we award ‘The Snapper’, a review score of 5 glorious stars. It runs at The Gate until September 15.
Paul O’Rourke