The Boy Needs Therapy

First of all, it’s upper case THEATRE, lower case club. Repeat: upper case THEATRE, lower case club. Not theatreclub or THEATREClub or theatreCLUB (their arch enemies), it’s just good old upper case THEATRE, lower case club. Right? Good. So now that the house keeping is out of the way, I’ll get around to the review.

There was a nicely packed house in Cleere’s Theatre for THEATREclub’s Kilkenny debut, the highly anticipated Group Therapy For One. I don’t think a lot of people knew exactly what to expect which led to some choice uncomfortable reactions from some quite bemused patrons. I knew they were bemused because the audience was sitting across from each other and so you could see EVERY reaction on the opposing side. I was later told that our side of the audience looked more relaxed. I felt pretty relaxed, but then, I had a camera and a notebook to focus my glare on.

Group Therapy For One is all about a young man called Shane Byrne and he talks about his life and his problems for about 50 minutes and then everyone leaves feeling better about themselves. That’s the idea, and folks, that’s the execution. I’m not going to delve into the finer details too much, as the fun is in finding out yourself but the video should give you a good idea of what to expect. By the by, in case people thought I was going to regurgitate the fake John Morton review from the show, I wanted to but apparently it constitutes utter laziness. And anyway, I loved the show so I’m kinda conflicted. There’s some beautiful musical touches, a great piece of technological interface and some really well judged moments of audience interaction. People generally have a tendency to freak out a little when it comes to audience participation but in the parameters of this performance where a man gives so much of himself, it feels a little churlish to not give it back just the same. So be calm, you won’t be violated. Well, only in a beautiful way and you’ll like it. Really.

Shane Byrne is a fine performer, pepped up with boundless energy, charisma to burn and a disarming stage presence. He kind of looks like Tommy Tiernan’s more charming younger brother but with a lovely head of Charlie Chaplin hair. If that doesn’t sell you on the appeal of this man, then nothing will. Of course, the show is wildly self indulgent but so was Hamlet and anyway, this is way more entertaining. Self indulgence is absolutely what you should expect with a show involving a man talking about his foibles and encouraging you to examine yours. Group Therapy For One reaches a perfectly pitched emotional catharsis and that, as the Greeks told us, is the absolute definition of drama. Done and done. I felt great coming out of this show and not to sound flippant about such a thing, but I really thought this is the perfect piece of theatre to drag depressed teenagers to as it allows examination of the insecurities that can compound you as you travel to adulthood. The point I got from this show is that life gets better, everything gets better and it always helps to talk. And even if it is a lie for every two truths, that’s a wonderful reality to face.

It runs until Sunday so go see it while you can. And one more time, upper case THEATRE, lower case club. Yes, that's it.

 - John

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