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Magpie juxtaposes the personal tragedy of two brothers against the backdrop of a nation reeling from Civil War.Summary
Rating
Good
In the aftermath of the Civil War, Michael (Andrew Cusack) sits in Kilmainham Gaol, found to be a traitor and waiting to hear of his fate; his older brother Patrick (Johnjoe Irwin), his jailer. Their family history is characterised by vastly different experiences of conflict, and Cusack’s own script powerfully captures Michael’s harrowing experiences in France. We learn of the mistreatment he suffered at the hands of British soldiers, the gruesome task of collecting bodies in no-man’s land, and the lingering cough caused by exposure to gas in the trenches. Having seen this side of war, Michael doesn’t think so much of the 1916 Rising or his brothers’ part in the Rising. Patrick, already put out by the fact that his brother chose to fight for the British King, spits out the title, forcefully points out that he still fought, and he, too, had friends and comrades die next to him.
There is a constant undercurrent of regret, with both Cusack and Irwin doing an excellent job of showing us the brotherly love that the current circumstances force them to push down and down and bring them to blows. It is a sweltering evening in the Old Red Lion, which, as shown by the buckets of sweat, heightens the physical conflict and tension. Particular praise goes to Irwin for persevering in the full army uniform, including the heavy coat. Both deliver strong performances, and the fight direction is notably impressive, especially given the small space.
An Irish history lesson might be needed to help flesh out Magpie a bit more: there is a little overreliance on the audience to be able to follow references to the Treaty or to The Big Fellow, and these references which could do with a little more explanation. An appearance from Ronan Colfer (who also directs) as a visiting priest feels superfluous; it detracts from the brothers divide and it brings it more talk of religion and the role of the Catholic church in Ireland. Not to take anything away from Colfer, but this section needs further development, or preferably, to be rethought to keep the focus on the family.
While the Island of Ireland has thankfully moved on from the violence of its past, the deep-seated divisions explored in Magpie still resonate today. The brothers’ fractured relationship mirrors the historical schism that gave rise to Ireland’s dominant political parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The term “Civil War politics” still echoes through Irish discourse. Magpie illustrates how even two loving brothers can be torn asunder– each on a different path driven by their own held beliefs and their experiences while also reminding us of the connection between us, even if we chose to fight for different causes.
Written by: Andrew Cusack
Directed by: Ronan Colfer
Magpie played at Old Red Lion as part of Camden Fringe, and its run has now ended.
