Bouncers
Bursting with imagination and wit and presented by just four actors, Bouncers is an outrageous and hilarious parody of the nightclub scene. The four brutish bouncers of the title portray over twenty different characters as we are invited for a night out on the town. We see them as giggly girls and lads on the make preparing for the big night out as we follow their progress to the dance floor. There, we also meet an entire cross-section of revellers, including Hooray Henrys, pogoing punks and drunken slobs! The evening's events are set against the tatty glitzy glamour, flashing lights and pulsating beat of the nightclub scene.
Rose Rushe, Journalist with the Limerick Post.
The show got great press from everyone and well done to you, cast and crew. I saw it on Saturday and Bouncers was a cracker. Fast, clear, wicked, humane. The choreography worked and movement between characterisation and the sexes was ace. I laughed a lot.
John Markham, Journalist.
The Orchard Theatre Company’s production of John Godber’s Bouncers is a highly enjoyable and thoroughly entertaining affair with plenty of laughs to be had throughout. Directed by Simon Thompson, Bouncers gives us a highly amusing and light-hearted take on the club scene in Ireland from the point of view of the titular bouncers, as well as a collection of drunkards, punks and desperate women. What is most interesting about the setup for ‘Bouncers’ is rather than having a large ensemble perform, the cast of characters are performed by only four actors. The actors, Stefan Barry, David Collins, Zeb Moore and Pius McGrath perform admirably, each taking on multiple characters (both male and female). Watching them juggle these characters is undoubtedly the highlight of the show. Switching from tough-guy bouncers to giddy women getting their hair done at the salon, the quick-fire dialogue is tricky material, but is delivered with aplomb by the energetic leads . This is all aided by a well written, witty and gag-filled script performed by the group who are obviously having great fun with the material. Watching them change character and the sudden change in their postures and attitudes is always chuckle worthy. It must be noted that the humour is definitely not for the easily offended, with plenty of crude jokes and strong language being used throughout. The relatively short running time (70 minutes) is made feel even shorter as the pace is fast throughout and there is no intermission. The lighting was excellent and more than makes up for the lack of scenery, which was not missed and would have only slowed the pace and impact of the performances. Even the main props, the beer barrels (creatively used a DJ booth and as taxi seats) and the handbags are used effectively to signal changes in the scenes. Offering plenty of laughs, raucous humour and an 80’s inspired soundtrack, ‘Bouncers’ is well worth the price of adm ission, only if they allow you in.
