Ivor (A Play, a Pie and a Pint), Traverse

Scarlet (Alice Glass) is a climate activist.  So when her mother Sarah (Laura Harvey) wants to get her a big surprise for her 21st she knows it has to be related to her daughter’s passion.  And Ivor is very big, and very very surprising.  But also an indication that spending a lot of money on a gift  doesn’t guarantee that you’ve fully understood what the recipient is really all about.  Scarlet isn’t about to give up on her plans to tend to Ivor, she and partner Judith (Betty Valencia) have a planet to save.

Mothers and daughters, the generation gap, and the lack of real understanding surrounding climate change are all tackled in this ambitious metaphor.  I won’t give away the nature of the mysterious Ivor, but he is much more problem than solution, a reflection of the misunderstanding of climate issues.  Surreal, often darkly funny, the script doesn’t fully hit the mark, but does provide some food for thought, partly spoiled by an unnecessarily confusing ending.  The acting is decent enough,with some excellent timing. Harvey does the controlling parent well, Valencia perhaps the best in conveying her frustration and desperation with a world that is going down the tubes.

Not the best PPP, but still interesting.

Police Dog Hogan, Voodoo Rooms

A two part post this time.  A brief review, for there is not much to say on that front, and a rant.  A rant/plea to venues & promoters & bands and anyone interesting in promoting equality.

Two support acts, then the main turn.  Neither support was memorable.  A pub-level band wioth a not-so-good vocalist, who continually tried to play on past associations to Shane McGowan.  And a guitarist singer/songwriter, accompanied by PDH's pianist, with a good voice, some wit in his introductions, and forgetable songs.  

PDH were, of course, a big step up in quality, and fun.  The line up was the same as when we saw them last year, the performance just as strong.  You can read that review here.

Part 2 is less about the music, more aboiut the set up and organisation.  'Standing only' is something we have to avoid, both of us having health issues that would prevent us from staying upright for that kind of time without considerable discomfort.  Promoters need to make it much clearer where this is the case, both on their advertising and the tickets themselves.  When we found out I complained to the organiser.  he did, eventually, provide a couple of chairs (from which we could see next to nothing), but with such bad grace it felt like he was trying to make out it was our fault.  We might not be going to the Voodoo Rooms in the future...