Homespun Irish tale of exile, corruption and unrequited love

It is difficult to decide whether the playwright is being ironic or decidedly post-modernist, with echoes of Irish writer Tom Murphy and the Kerryman, John B Keane himself.

Jack (Frank Fitzpatrick) returns from the US after many years to stake his claim to the family seat. However, his younger brother Lardy (Alexander Gordon-Wood) has different ideas.

To make ends meet, Lardy - instead of using the dollars that his brother has been sending him from across the pond - has started brewing the illicit moonshine liquor poteen.

At times, O'Brien's dialogue has more than a touch of the surreal, which makes one wonder whether he has been sampling the hard stuff with its hallucinatory powers - for research reasons, of course.

Brother Jack and his new fianee Phyllis (Jacqueline Jordan), want to sell the land and buy a guest house in another place, leaving Lardy a garden shed where he can kip and no doubt brew his grog.

The introduction of widow Molly (Jacky Skarvellis) and a pig farmer to the proceedings adds a touch of dark humour. It appears that she had a fling with brother Jack before he went to the Big Apple, while keeping her eye on the dreamer Lardy.

Molly and Lardy get stuck into the poteen and reminisce. Well, they are poor Irish farmers caught in a time warp. The effects of the moonshine brings on the spirit of young Molly (Josephine McCaffrey) who sings her laments quite beautifully.

This is a strong, if a little creaky, production directed by John Dunne, with good performances especially from the main three actors.

The appearance of young Molly and lighting changes need looking at. However, O'Brien's language does paint a vivid if homespun picture.

Tom O'Brien's play On Raglan Road will be touring Ireland during September and October and a version of his issue play about street drinking, Down Bottle Alley, will play at the Jerry Lind Hotel in Hastings on September 13 at 3pm. Admission free. Visit www.croftproductions.com for more information.

JACK O'CONNOR