A NIGHT TO REMEMBER?
Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 10:06PM Here's a review by Hannah, one of our regular readers, of a new play she attended the other evening at the Grand Opera House in Belfast. It has won rave reviews in certain quarters, but true to the spirit of this site, this is a dissenting view which is well worth a read....my thanks to Hannah for taking the time to share her experience with us.
A Night in November.
Kenneth McAllister, is a dole clerk who is married to Deborah with a couple of kids and a father in law he doesn't like. He's portrayed as a typical middle class Protestant with snobbish attitudes towards "the other sort" and also towards the clients who come into the Dole office. The first part shows Kenneth dealing with clients in a brash manner. A man with six children comes into the office to make a claim. The man is told he needs to show up the next day, but can't because he's taking his mother to Dublin on the train. 'Then you'll be outside the country?'. No, I'm only going down the road to Dublin. Ah, but its a foreign country. The client waits in the office while Kenneth goes off about his business, only to show up in the second half, angry at his treatment and at being kept waiting. Kenneth knows how to treat his sort.
After work he takes his father in law to the football match. There's a guy there, who's obviously a catholic in the stand next to Kenneth. He knows the guy is a catholic because of his demeanour. The guy isn't shouting or cheering, and stands stiff while the national anthem is played. Kenneth knows the guy is ill at ease. There's been sectarian shouts from the father in law, and a chorus of 'trick or treat' and " Greysteel Greysteel we got seven". Fenian scum, shouts the father in law. Kenneth starts thinking about what is going on around him. Hates the father in law for what he is, and begins to wonder at how he ever came to be married to someone spawned by him. Kenneth doesn't feel he belongs in this place with these people.
At home after the match he takes things out on Deborah. He rows with Deborah because of how he's feeling and goes too far, there are tears in his eyes. "Really Deborah I'm sorry, it's not you, its me". Deborah goes off to bed, leaving Kenneth a little despondent.
The next day after work in the dole office Kenneth offers Jerry, his catholic boss, a lift home. There's oneupmanship between these two. The day before Kenneth had been lording it over Jerry that he'd got into the golf club. Off they go to a part of Belfast Kenneth had never seen before to take Jerry home. He's going up the Falls. Look at all the soldiers! They're more at home on the Falls than Kenneth is. When they get to Jerry's house, well look at this! It's bigger than Kenneth's. Jerry invites him in, his wife has left Jerry a note, could he see to his own tea as she's taken a notion to go to the pictures and has taken the kids with her. Kenneth is surprised. Look at the lived in house. Books upside down on the book case, toys scattered over the lawn. Jerry tells him sometimes in the morning he comes out and there are two squaddies in his garden. Among the purple flowers in their kaki. Don't they know anything about camouflage? This is a nice house, it has a warm feeling in it, a family feeling. Not like Kenneth's. In Kenneth's house everything has its place, books are bought not to be read but to match the wallpaper.
When Kenneth goes home, after telling Deborah where he was and answering her inquisitive questions about Jerry, he decides he's going to do what Jerry has told him he's going to do. Jerry is off to the match. Jerry's wife has borrowed money for them to go to the USA to see Ireland play Italy. Kenneth decides he'll say nothing to Deborah, but he'll sell the golf clubs that Deborah has newly bought him for the club and jiggle a few things about to get the money to do what Jerry is doing. He's packed his kit in the boot of the car and got everything ready to go to NY behind Deborah's back.
Kenneth is off to Dublin to catch the flight, another part of the country he's never been in. Look at this airport, look how big it is, its great. He meets up with a kerryman who's told his wife he's going to Lough Dearg. Kenneth changes into his Ireland kit. Now he's one of the lads. The kerryman gets Kenneth a floor to sleep on in NY. The match is great. No sectarian chants at this match.
Stick your pizza!
Stick your pizza!
Stick your pizza up yer hole'
It's a great laugh, no father in law, no sectarianism. Kenneth belongs. Not like the catholic man at the Belfast match.
The Irish women are great, coddin' with him, making eyes at him. And the NY cops are great. The team have won and they spill out on to the NY streets. Great camaraderie. Kenneth and the lads want a picture with a NY cop. Even the Irish Americans are part of this Irish group. The cop says to Kenneth 'what part of Ireland are you from' 'Belfast' says Kenneth. 'Yeah . I heard there was a shooting there, six dead'. Cold water is poured over the whole festivities. But after a while the camaraderie kicks back in. All's well, Kenneth is in great spirits, 'ole ole ole ole', and off he goes.
An abrupt ending. We never hear what happens to Deborah. Does Kenneth go back to live with her as before? It's hard to think he could. How could he return to live in that community?
The best attribute of this play is how Kielty pulls off the various roles in a one man show. But...what a play for its portrayal of the Protestant/ Unionist tradition! Written by a Belfast protestant, she could hardly have done a better job of rewriting the history of the troubles. It was aimed at one section of the community, perhaps with the intent of asking it to examine its self, and its attitudes, but instead held it up and examined its shortfalls with no balance of its attributes being shown. There's nothing in this play about sectarianism towards unionists, nor references to IRA atrocities. The unionists who live in their in-ward looking areas, their entrenched attitudes, their views of the other community, and all of it based on misconception and fear. This play is a political comedy, and at times a good laugh. But the joke is on us.
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Reader Comments (28)
After you massively understating your writing skills on another thread, I must say I'm extremely impressed, Hannah. A great review. Well done!
A one-sided view of one side, it would seem from your account, but the play still sounds like loads of fun and I'd love to go and see it.
The author, Marie Jones, is the lady who played Gerry Conlon's mum in In the Name of the Father, is she not?
Ironically, Marie Jones (the writer) and family are now a regular fixture abroad with the GAWA, N.Ireland's away support..something must have drastically changed over all those years.
I can vaguely remember 1993, when the match which forms the basis of the play took place; Republicans bombing Frizzels chip shop on the Shankill and the almost inevitable loyalist response at Greysteels, a World Cup decider with our 2nd closest rivals (don't
flatter yourselves, it'll always be England that NI most enjoy beating;)).
There was, I'm sure, an understandable edge to the match, but Jones' portrayal of the night's events is very one-sided and I think that's reflected in the very mixed reviews the plays got.
Hannah, very good review.
Great effort Hannah.
It looks like the play has bought the lie that bigotry only exists among protestants and catholics are entirely free of this vice. Needless to say, this fits the view of the prevailing political elite (BBC/SF) entirely. Gerry Adams will approve of this play 100%. I'm surprised it didn't get its first showing at the West Belfast festival (=shinner fest).
Hannah,
Gt synopsis and review. I am not familiar with Marie Jones's work, and have yet to see Stones in His Pockets. The play seems to attack Unionists from not embracing ther Irishness and also their inherent bigotry, but it doesn't as you say give an overall picture of what was happening at that time. Some Ulster writers - I'm thinking principally of Eoin MacNamee, author of Resurrection Man - declare that Ulster Protestants are psychologically askew and I hope she isnt suggesting the same. I wonder how she would tackle the very public murder of the two corporals in Andersontown in the late 1980s and what her take on nationalist attitudes then would be.
In plays, its always better to take an overview of the complexities of a situation rather than opting for the simplistic, feelgood factor. O'Casey, probably the greatest playwright on Irish issues, understood this
BTW happily supported the Irish rugby team this afternoon, and had to buy a round for the braying Scotish contingent when their team won (What is going on?)
Sara,
Who'd have guessed the Scots would win!
Also, agree on O'Casey - he wrote some great lines.
With friends like Marie Jones, we dont need enemies. How she can have the brass neck to turn up to NI matches these days is beyond me.
She should hang her head in shame: better still, bugger off and watch the Republic of Ireland like Kenneth.
I sincerely hope there is an appropriate chant in her honour at the Liechstenstein match in a fortnight!
Excellent review, Hannah. Hope you didnt pay to watch it.
Peter,
"I'm surprised it didn't get its first showing at the West Belfast festival (=shinner fest)."
It did, in 1994. It has played here in the USA many times over the last 13 years. It preceded Stones in His Pockets.
>>I can vaguely remember 1993, when the match which forms the basis of the play took place<<
O'Neill, that match took place in the summer; why did she call the play a "Night in November"?
Alan, did you see it and, if so, what did you think?
Hannah
I was there to watch the portrayal of everything Unionist, Protestant as vile and evil, and something to be condemned or pitied on Friday night.
What I came away with is the only laughs were from the pompous middle class Northern Ireland art elite.
They who giggled when there was a swear word or when there was a lets all laugh with the good old bohys supporting the ROI team then there were more laughs at the Unionist working class expense and a slight nervous laugh at the golf club polishers.
However, the events of the day were never set as a background. No reference to the Shankill bomb or the high state of political tension.
Just the same old worn out vitriol or everything Unionist and Protestant bad and the nationalist and republicanism good and to be celebrated.
Lets see some balance from Marie Jones and lets have a fun filled one man show on the La Mon House bomb, can I suggest Gerry Adams maybe as the lead roll.
Or a one man show of my life on the run with exerts of the main character telling school children how exciting it was to evade the law maybe Martin McGuinness could play that roll.
We could have scenes of the jollity at the funeral of the Shankill bomber where this child and mass killer was portrayed as a catholic working class hero Gerry again can play a leading roll there.
The hole show on Friday night was the well old worn out stereotypical view of the Unionist and Protestant working class people.
My last word will be well done Marie for stereotypically pigeon holing and bring nothing new to the Opera House on the hard working Unionist people.
Sorry this will be my last word, the first Ole, Ole, Ole was in Spain 82. Marie where you there to see the GAWA be greeted by all who meet them and stated the GAWA are the Greatest fans in the world and they still are today!
O'Neill, that match took place in the summer; why did she call the play a "Night in November"?
Noel,
17 (just checked!) November 1993 was the World Cup qualifying match at Windsor between the Republic and Northern Ireland. It was a 1-1 draw and as a result, the Republic went to the World Cup finals in the US summer 1994.
Good Honest review Hannah.
I feel Jones has not only let the people of Northern Ireland down, but indeed she has let herself down. This play is nothing more than an overstated, overworked view of how one half were perceived by the other half there is no balance, nor is there much truth to the tail of what happened at the game that night.
She has succeeded in making the Unionist and Protestant people of Northern Ireland look like a bunch of monsters. Jones is pushing the hate agenda to the utmost with her lies and misinformation.
The supporters of Northern Ireland are a loud, energetic army, they can turn the tide of a game with their voice, Jones is not one of them, as she has lied and cast them all in a light that will take years to go out, if it goes out at all.
How does one make a nation of predominantly honest, hardworking people, look like a bunch of hate filled, evil animals? Ask Marie Jones, after all, she says she is one of them?!
I note the less than subtle justification of the sectarian mass murder at Greysteel as being the 'almost inevitable loyalist response'. That sickening excuse-making proves that the bigoted attitudes ofNorthern Ireland fans remain well and truly in place.-Who said Jones' play was out of date?
I was actually at this game with my mate who is an NI fan. I had joked with him that I would cheer if the Republic scored. However the hate and sectarian bile that was on show that night had to be seen to be believed. We left the ground well before the game as my friend thought that we were likely to get a hiding because we weren't joining in the sectarian songs. Needless to say I haven't been back to a Northern Ireland game and neither ,to his credit, has my pal. Unfortunately for NI fans, the truth of this Play hurts and it is very telling that it was written by a long-time Northern Ireland supporter
[i]I note the less than subtle justification of the sectarian mass murder at Greysteel as being the 'almost inevitable loyalist response'. That sickening excuse-making proves that the bigoted attitudes ofNorthern Ireland fans remain well and truly in place.-Who said Jones' play was out of date?[/i]
Eh?
To me, the term "inevitable" is defined as "certainly going to occur". It does not in the slightest mean any form of justification; it merely states that such an event will occur. Nowhere in the text is the massacre justified, except in Paul's own narrow little head.
When people become so wrapped up in their tired little prejudices, they start twisting the words they see and use them as ammunition. Therefore, a phrase which in no way condones the events is taken as excusing it. Everyone else sees the phrase for what it really is, except the bigot making the accusation.
I agree with RJM here. In no way does O Neill's use of the term 'almost inevitable' means he is attempting to justify it, just acknowledging the sad reality of the endless atrocity following atrocity that stained Northern Ireland for nearly 30 years.
I note the less than subtle justification of the sectarian mass murder at Greysteel as being the 'almost inevitable loyalist response'. That sickening excuse-making proves that the bigoted attitudes ofNorthern Ireland fans remain well and truly in place.-Who said Jones' play was out of date?
Paul,
Huh??
RJM has pretty well answered your point there.
But I'll just add that I think you've made one very big (and wrong) assumption.
My name should've given you a clue.
"Unfortunately for NI fans, the truth of this Play hurts and it is very telling that it was written by a long-time Northern Ireland supporter"
err, she wasnt at the match.
Its only in the last few years she's apparently become a 'lifelong' fan.
RJM misses the point in that loyalist terror gangs consistently hid behind the excuse that their violence was reactionery to republican violence. ONeill ,intenionally or otherwise, is guilty of doing precisely the same in his earlier post.
The accusations of bigotry against me because I deigned to challenge thoise displaying this mindset are entirely predictable and true to form of NI fans who cannot handle criticsm at any level. If my criticsm of the sectarian attitudes among NI fans is because I am a bigot, then what can Marie Jones motive for writing this Play be? She cannot be described as bigoted against NI fans as she is an Ulster Protestant and a long-time supporter of Northern Ireland, home and away.Posters like RJM cannot grasp that she might actually be telling an uncomfortable truth based on her own first-hand knowledge.I have no wish to engage in this exchange further as it is inevitable that NI fans will descend further into vitriol and childish name-calling rather than respond constructively to the issues raised in Marie's courageous piece of work.
Noel,
Alan, did you see it and, if so, what did you think?
I did not see it for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it didn't play anywhere near me and I usually avoid one-player (or even 2-player) shows. There was a momentary bubble of soccer excitement in the USA due to the 1994 World Cup (which I did get to watch live on TV), and I think this was why the show played here originally. It is also a staple of local Irish Arts organizations and a showcase for any "one-man-show" type of performer.
Where I live near Rochester, NY we have an amateur group called the irish players that has been producing shows from "Playboy of the Western World" to "Da" since 1997. To the best of my knowledge, they have never done anything by Marie Jones.
Just like to add my tuppence. Sure we had elements of scum within the Northern Ireland support. That was then.
UEFA have given our fans an award. This is now.
As for Kenneth's character, who found "salvation" amongst those jolly craicster RoI fans - I wonder did he join in with renditions of "Stand up if you hate da Brits" etc? I'm sure it was only a bit of craic.
RJM misses the point in that loyalist terror gangs consistently hid behind the excuse that their violence was reactionery to republican violence. ONeill ,intenionally or otherwise, is guilty of doing precisely the same in his earlier post
Paul,
And I, like most decent people in NI, treated such *excuses* with the contempt they deserved.
I would also never "intentionally or otherwise" justify any form of terrorism.
Clear enough for you?
Still, I'm sure if someone said that the decades of discrimination inevitably led to the IRA campaign, there would be an almost unanimous chorus of condemnation of this "justification" for terror. There certaintly has been in the past when that form of causality was brought up.
On a broader note, there have over the years been many examples of plays/films etc. condemning, say, the IRA campaign, the tacit support for it among sections of the NI nationalist people, etc.
How many of those complaining here also felt reason to complain of these? Because they didnt mention Loyalist violence, they could by the same token be interpreted as a statement that only Republicans/Nationalists were engaged in terror. But of course they werent saying that, and this play is most likely also not suggesting that only Unionists are bigots.
It's just focussing on bigotry among Unionists as that's something the author is obviously more familiar with.
Noel
The play reinforces negative sectarian stereotypes and misrepresents both the match in question, NI supporters generally and Protestants generally, reducing them to grotesque caricatures.
It is an entertaining play and manages to shed some black humour on a sad night of bitter sectarianism at Windsor Park while also showing us how far we have come in the mantime.
The most paranoid group you will ever find is the NI supporter. They are the only supporters with a web site that has a thread called 'Fightback' so they can get a chance to re-write history.
Marie Jones play was not about loyalist violence or IRA violence, but about the actions of so called football supporters on night at a game of football in Belfast, Since it happened they are in denial, and like the Neill Lennon atrocity will try and tell you it never happened.
Unfortunately for them, it did.
Unfortunately the play is not about the so called 'actions of so called football supporters on (a) night at a game of football in Belfast, Since it happened they are in denial', the play is about what Marie Jones perceived to have happened after reading about it in some tabloid rag and who then took second hand 'opinion' and turned it into third hand fact - is it any wonder some are in denial or 'fightback' mode which should probably be renamed 'how it really is' mode.
I don't think anybody is trying to deny what happened, what they are trying to do is put in context and hopefully move on...
Unfortunately the play is not about the so called 'actions of so called football supporters on (a) night at a game of football in Belfast, Since it happened they are in denial', the play is about what Marie Jones perceived to have happened after reading about it in some tabloid rag and who then took second hand 'opinion' and turned it into third hand fact - is it any wonder some are in denial or 'fightback' mode which should probably be renamed 'how it really is' mode.
I don't think anybody is trying to deny what happened, what they are trying to do is put in context and hopefully move on...
Saw the play last night, and I thought the football was a fairly peripheral part of the play's message. That message was, all protestants/unionists are horrible, all catholics/nationalists are lovely, and the only way for a protestant/unionist to redeem himself is to be a wannabe catholic/nationalist. I think it's possible to reject sectarianism and bigotry without rejecting your entire community and idealising the other community, which is what this play does.