Stones in his Pocket

By MARIE JONES
Performed by the Lyric Theatre Company at the Liverpool Playhouse

Reviewed by Michelle Richards

‘Stones in his pockets’ is a warm, humorous and tragic depiction of what happens when Hollywood meets County Kerry. The cast consisted of two actors who played 13 parts! Martin Jenkins and Jean- Paul Van Cauwelaert slipped seamlessly between roles and in doing so brought the audience to the core of the magic of theatre.
In the play Hollywood arrives with its shallow pretensions to the heart of a community that had been stripped of its aspirations. The local people of Kerry are paid £40 per day to be extras.
Hollywood is portrayed with its heartless disregard for everyday people and lack of care and respect for their circumstance. The people of Kerry are left to defend their humanity.
The play highlights the egocentricity of the ‘superstar’ and the strange ways that the legacy of status can make people forget how to care. The play gives us a harsh reminder of the importance of respect.
I was interested in the way that the play showed the effects of both internal and external poverty. It also made apparent, the link between isolation and dehumanisation.
Despite adversity the value of hope wins through. We are shown that, in the end, even fragile dreams can create strength and inspiration.