A third of the way into Iron Man, I thought G. B. Shaw's Major Barbara might break out. Tony Starks (the fab. Robert Downey Jr. without whom the movie is lost) experiences inner conflict about the place of his international munitions corporation in modern warfare. His epiphany echoes Major Barbara's at the challenge of inheriting her father, Andrew Undershaft's arms factory: "Money and gunpowder; freedom and power; command of life and command of death."
But then the horror of Jeff Bridges with his bald head and bad beard announces that this is a conventional superhero movie even though he is wearing his Big Lebowski shoes throughout.
Purgatory by W. B. Yeats @ Handcart Ensemble
On May 31st, the Handcart Ensemble will offer Yeats' Purgatory, a seldom produced one-act, in a benefit night. The Nobel Laureate is, of course, known for his poetry, but he also wrote many challenging, experimental plays. Yeats' last play, Purgatory anticipates one of Beckett's later themes, the futility of trying to fight against the limitations
of the body.
Purgatory will be directed by Joan McCready and will star Sam McCready, a founding member of Belfast's Lyric Theatre. The Handcart always does such interesting productions, but don't take my word for it. Take Paul Muldoon and his Pulitzer's word for it:
“I simply can’t imagine a better production of The Burial at Thebes. Handcart Ensemble is a spectacularly gifted group, absolutely equal to the subtleties of Heaney’s text. I’ll go anywhere to see anything they do.”
of the body.
Purgatory will be directed by Joan McCready and will star Sam McCready, a founding member of Belfast's Lyric Theatre. The Handcart always does such interesting productions, but don't take my word for it. Take Paul Muldoon and his Pulitzer's word for it:
“I simply can’t imagine a better production of The Burial at Thebes. Handcart Ensemble is a spectacularly gifted group, absolutely equal to the subtleties of Heaney’s text. I’ll go anywhere to see anything they do.”
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