This year, Fringe organisers were seeking to challenge people’s perception of art and engage with the current climate. If Power Point in the Camden Court Hotel is anything to go by, then they have certainly succeeded. Writer Tom Swift cleverly combines multimedia and a beautifully written script to create a nonsensical psycho drama that could be referred to as an inspirational conference rather than a play.

We are welcomed to this site specific production by being given a name badge and a conference pack that serves also as the programme and as we are ushered to our seats in the seminar room by the actual actors, we are made to feel like we are actually attending a conference. Business cards with the characters twitter accounts are even given out creating a formal, business-like atmosphere.

The conference begins with the perpetually amusing Mary Point (Claire Barrett) who introduces us to business gurus Jack and Jill Power. (Alan Howley and Lisa Lambe respectively). The combination of raucous music, dazzling special effects, clever lighting and effortless acting that follows creates a frenzied energy as the gurus try to sell us nothing but impenetrable corporate jargon. Chaos then ensues and professionalism falters as we are introduced to Sonny (Hilary O’Shaughnessy), transvestite son of Jack and Jill, and the conference implodes into a hellish family feud exposing the secrets of the perfect, power-hungry couple and their less than perfect life. Normality is finally restored and a delicate intimacy descends upon the room when the actors break free from their original characters and they begin to reminisce about what seems like their very own personal memoirs, the blank photographs serving up as a metaphor to everything that has been lost amidst the fast-paced society that is today.

Little details such as Jill’s Balmain shoulder pads and Louboutin heels, clashing with Mary’s clumsy apparel and the whole graphic odyssey created by Evan Flynn prove very effective and combine to make a visually stunning piece. However it is the extravagant energy and perfect comic timing of the actors maintained through out that makes this quirky, boisterous and for the most part ridiculous piece of theatre a must-see. (19/09/09)

Now for the Dublin Theatre Festival

For Aisling’s shoot, we found an ‘edgier’, you might say, location. It was a great find as it combined edgy yet countryside-ish with lovely views. While Ais was pretty much half naked, a guy drives up (to this very hidden location) and decides he wants to eat his lunch there. Oh cheers! Looking for an extra special lunch are we? Luckily he left soon after and we carried on. We were going for the grungy, rocky look with this one.

Hope you enjoy!

Aislinn…

Aisling…

Watch me as I lie here, in a smelly alleyway

I’m not a real citizen, I’ve nothing to say

My face is unshaven, my shoes have many holes

I walk the streets at night, with other empty souls

To you I’m just like dirt, a piece of chewing gum on your shoe

I don’t have feelings, hopes or dreams, no, I’m not like you

I steal, I threaten, I start fights and shoot up

I’m good enough for nothing, so I’ll just beg here with my cup

But little do you know, that I once had a family too

Except my father used to beat me, until I was black and blue

I think my mother loved us, but she loved her needles more

I woke up and her legs were dangling, I was only four

In school they used to push me around, said my father was a bum

The teachers left me out of things, said I was too dumb

Then I started using, and they kicked me out of school

Dad threw me out of the house, said I was an idiot, a fool

I’ve been on the streets a year now, suppose I’ve learnt to cope

Every day I live in fear, so I just pray and hope

I try to numb my feelings, but inside I’m filled with rage

When will you see me as being a real person? When will your opinion change?

Here’s the results! 

Basically she thought everything happening was a dream, but then she realises the murderer is in the bed beside her. So long sweetie!

Recently, I was lucky enough to get to interview young Dublin singer/song-writer Ruth-Anne. Her music is really captivating! I can’t believe she wrote all her songs herself and she is only 22!

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I’m surprised by the sweetness of Ruth-Anne’s voice over the phone. I spent the whole of last night lost in her hearty, soulful tunes in advance of getting a quick five minutes on the phone with the young singer/songwriter.

“Hey Yvonne, great to talk to you” she squels as she picks up the phone. I smile as I realise she hasn’t lost the Northside accent what with the amount of time she has been spending in between the States and the UK. She is as friendly as she is sweet and I begin to think I am having an everyday conversation with a friend. “Take your time, I’m just chilling”, she says.

 Ruth-Anne is far from your regular, everyday young girl. At only 22, she is already Ireland’s most successful young songwriter ever. “I began writing when I was 8” she says. “It just came naturally to me. It started off with poems and then gradually went into songs. For some reason I knew how to structure a song without ever being taught. I used to write my own lyrics to stuff like the Backstreet Boys, record it and then give to my Mom and Dad for presents on special occasions.”

 Starting young obviously contributed to her success. Her name hit the headlines when American popstar JoJo’s song “Too little too late” went to no.3 in the American charts. Ruth-Anne had co-written the song and it went on to be a smash hit in over 30 countries. Last year she won a coveted ASCAP award in the USA for “Best Pop Song of 2007” and her ’08 debut single “Take Me Away” went top 10 in Ireland and was also released on the South African Idol winner Jody Williams’ debut album. She has had hit songs on three no.1 platinum albums in the USA and aswell as JoJo, has written for Katherine McPhee, australian act Shakaya, Finland Idol winner Anna Abreu and many more. At just 17, she won the 2FM Jacobs Songwriting Contest and this led to her collaborations with big names such as acclaimed writer and producer Billy Steinberg and Frannie Golde.

 After the winning the contest she was whisked off to LA to play in front of Billy Steinberg. She was still only a kid but she wasn’t even nervous. “I just kind of got on with it. I knew I couldn’t let my nerves get the better of me. And I’d had so much practise before that it was just like doing what I already did everyday.” Her professionalism didn’t just surface on its own however. She attended the Billie Barry stage school from the age of four and it was instrumental in shaping her current success. “Being in the Billie Barrys is a huge contributer to who I am today and how I deal with things. A lot of people don’t get it and think that we just smiled a lot, but it was a hell of a lot more than that”. Attending intensive classes each week became an integral part of how she nurtured her talent for performing. Not only was she taught how to sing, dance and act but she learnt a lot about how to deal with rejection and the importance of keeping your head high when turned away. It gave her a taste of the industry and the importance of being on time and acting professionally. She was working with adults on professional shows since the age of 8, so she had to grow up fast. “All the practise and training stays with you and it ends up just coming naturally.”

 Aside from performing however, writing is her no.1 love. “I can write almost anywhere. I put backing tracks on in my car and think up lyrics as I’m driving. I also write a lot on planes and in the airport. I’m travelling a lot these days.” She has just finished an Irish tour with magician and mentalist, Keith Barry and had a great response to all of the shows. “I’d go out and give out cd’s during the interval and there was such a huge demand. It was really great seeing people responding so well to the music when the tour was really about magic.” In between shows she was flying to and from London where she was writing for Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and up and coming talent Girlband. Although she would never swap her job for a 9-5, it has been a very stressful few weeks for the young songstress. “I’ve been so busy and it’s really difficult to write in a pressurised environment. It dampens the creativity and it can be hard finding inspiration when you’re busy and stressed.”

 Aside from her work, she makes sure to have time for her friends and family. “It’s really important to find time to relax. I make sure to hang out with my friends as much as possible. I need them anyway because I get a lot of my song material out of the shit they do be going through.” Shopping is also very important to her. “Even if I’m in the studio or interviewing at ten, I’ll make time to go get a pair of shoes beforehand,” she says. I’m also cheeky enough to bring up the subject of men and relationships. As it happens, this is the first interview in five years where she can actually say she is single. “The same guy for five years?”, I enquire. “Of course not”, she replies. Finding a bloke has obviously never been a problem for the leggy brunette. Somehow I’m not surprised.

 It is obvious to anyone that Ruth-Anne has worked extremely hard for her success. When it comes to advice for aspiring artists she stresses the need to always be prepared. “You never know where you’re going to be so make sure you have a song ready to play. Don’t go out partying all the time. Your craft comes first. Practise your craft. Make it your baby. The fun comes after.”

 As I reluctantly wrap up the conversation she tells me of her goals to be a successful singer aswell as songwriter. After that being happy and healthy is her no.1 priority. “Oh and a grammy would be nice.” With the way things are going for the young talent, I doubt it’s going to much of a challenge.

 Don’t miss Ruth-Anne live in the Sugar club on May 16th. Her single “New World” will be released on May 17th. 

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http://little-people.blogspot.com/

Here goes….

DCU Drama presents: RENT @ The Helix

RENT, Jonathan Larson’s Rock Musical tale of AIDS, Homelessness and the Bohemian Lifestyle in early 1990′s New York is coming to the Helix, DCU this March!

After 12 years on Broadway, 5,124 Performances, 4 Tony Awards, 1 Feature Film and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Ireland’s First Professional Venue Performance in almost a decade of the show will take place at the Theatre, The Helix, DCU, on the 24th, 25th and 26th of March 2009 for just 4 performances.

DCU Drama are proud to announce that 5-time Best Director (Association of Irish Musical Societies) John Donnelly is at the helm of a talented young cast for what will be an unmissable event.

RENT is in association with the Dublin AIDS Alliance, and a percentage of profits will be donated in support of the DAA. 

Tickets are on sale now, priced at €20 and €15 for students, and available from:

www.dcuforrent.com/tickets.html
www.thehelix.ie/2009_Q1/Rent.htm
The Helix Box Office (01) 700 7000

Special Rate for Thursday 2pm Matinee: All €20 tickets are Buy One, Get one FREE, all student tickets are just €10!

Tuesday, 24th March: 8pm
Wednesday, 25th March: 8pm
Thursday, 26th March: 2pm
Thursday, 26th March: 8pm

Don’t Miss It! Tis gonna be epic!

Diane Arbus’ work is amazing.

She was ‘A pivotal figure in contemporary documentary photography, Diane Arbus produced a substantial body of work before her suicide in 1971. Her unrelentingly direct photographs of people who live on the edge of societal acceptance, as well as those photographs depicting supposedly “normal” people in a way that sharply outlines the cracks in their public masks, were controversial at the time of their creation and remain so today.’

I might just go cry on a hill or something now.

(They don’t have an official video. This was the best recording I could find.)