illness serif;”>Speckled People Hugo Hamilton
medical serif;”>This week is the last chance to see the world premiere adaptation of Hugo Hamilton’s 2003 memoir Speckled People. Lauded for not being of the typical cliché ridden Frank McCourt style of “miserable Irish-Catholic childhoods” Speckled People sets itself apart with the story of an Irish upbringing unlike any other. Hugo Hamilton’s childhood situation was unique; his mother immigrated to Ireland from Germany in 1949 and married Hugo’s father Jack Hamilton – or Sean Ó hUrmoltaigh, troche as he renamed himself. His father was a staunch nationalist. He forbade his children from speaking English at home and if they did they’d be beaten. Instead they were only allowed to speak German or Gaelic. This lead to Hamilton’s marginalization among all groups, other children called them Nazis and in their Aran jumpers and lederhosen they definitely stood out. An extreme Oedipal drama without being overly sentimental. Ticket prices from €15 to €35
Monday to Saturday 7.30pm Saturday Matinee 2.30 Finishing Saturday the 5th
Jerry Springer the Opera. Not a title many people would expect to see certainly. A smash hit in London’s West End with over 600 performances Jerry Springer the Opera certainly stays true to its sources, and is thusly noted as only being for mature audiences due to its coarse language and controversial themes. Highlights of the show include men in nappies, Tap-dancing Ku Klux Klan members and sexual deviants. When it was originally shown protests followed it everywhere, it received over 55,000 complaints when broadcast by the BBC and was threatened with blasphemy charges. All characters sing in operatic fashion apart from Jerry himself. Tickets from €17.50 to €40
Monday to Saturday 7.30pm Saturday Matinee 2.30pm
Ides of March – Loosely based on the 2004 Democratic primary in Ohio Ides of March is George Clooney’s 4th directorial feature and is a very competent political study. It follows a cynical yet idealistic junior campaign manager’s struggle with some information that could destroy his candidate’s political chances. Dealing with the young manager’s loss of political innocence it is a superbly acted affair with a highly capable cast of Clooney himself as the candidate and Ryan Gosling as the Campaign manager. Phillip Seymour Hoffmann, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel wood fill supporting roles.
The Adventures of Tintin – Surprisingly this is Spielberg’s first time as director of an animated film. It seems odd that it has taken the master of so many childhood favourites such as E.T. and Indiana Jones to work in animation, needless to say this first attempt is typically ambitious. It is also a visually arresting watch, with Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame producing. This is one of the few films that the 3D doesn’t seem tacked on at the end. Written by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) and Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) this film is thoroughly fun. Starring Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and the master of motion capture acting Andy Serkis.
The Help – The breakout hit in America over the summer The Help takes a different look at the civil rights movement. Set in 1960s Mississippi it follows Skeeter, a young woman just returned from college, in her attempts to write a book chronicling the lives of the black maids in her community. Initially they are unwilling but lead by Aibileen who first opens up they soon follow. While this is happening Hilly, possible villain of the year, is campaigning for segregated bathrooms for “hygienic reasons”. Viola Davis is nearly guaranteed an Oscar nomination for this and is ably backed up by Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard.
