ABSOLUT Fringe 2012 | The Last Ten Years | Sean Millar/RADE

Star Rating: 4/5

Venue: Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
Review by: Sandy Hazel

ABSOLUT(ely): Deadly

This is a Mad Men style choral account of the war on drugs as an industry, in which the main players don’t really want a resolution. The show illustrates a drugs trade, exposed now as not just cartels and Afghan farmers, but also big pharma and presumably the thousands of jobs it creates in Ireland. The blurred lines between the legal and illegal ‘script’ business are sung under the centuries old banners and flags of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, cavernous yet intimate. How small we all are in the scheme of things.

Cohen style vocals about Valdoxan and how prescription drugs get market researched sounds like a pretty grim evening, but the choir carry it off, tentative but engaging. Kieron Farrell in particular sings with the laid back melancholy of a young Damien Dempsey, an angel who has seen a few demons. Created by Sean Millar, the original lyrics, score and some video clips make the case for legalising drugs; one Mexican dealer bitch slaps American presidents in an open letter of gratitude. If you enjoyed The Constant Gardener or agree with the philosophy behind Breaking Bad or Weeds then this is the show for you. Wear your thermals.

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Thursday 20th September 2012 | Theatre

450

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