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JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK
Swan Theatre
Barrington Theatre
Ferndown
January 2003
and other locations in East Dorset

IN recent months Lin Denning seems to have cornered the market in strong but put-upon Irish women, and they are characters she plays to perfection. In this Sean O’Casey classic, set in a Dublin tenement in the early 1920s, it is easy to believe that she genuinely feels the pain of loss that engulfs Juno as tragedy blights her life.
Her performance is one of many highlights in Geoff Whipp’s hard-hitting production in which the detailed direction, accentuated by an ‘in the round’ setting, brings a totally realistic feel to the evening.
As Juno’s husband Jack, the Paycock of the title, Alan Jarvis is every inch the work-shy dreamer although his accent wavers somewhat. And both Rebecca Gross and Barney Keen are simply superb as his angst-ridden offspring.
Keith Edmund cuts a fine balance between comedy and evil as Jack’s drinking partner Joxer Daly and there are several fine cameo performances, notably from Chris Warde (Jerry Devine), Estelle Hughes (Mrs Maisie Madigan) and Tommy Egerton (Mrs Tancred). And all credit too to James Cooke, who took on the role of Charles Bentham with just one week’s notice but was word perfect.
This week the production also plays BCCA Boscombe (Wednesday), Lytchett Matravers Village Hall (Thursday), Allendale Centre Wimborne (Friday) & Greyfriars Ringwood (Saturday). Catch it if you can.

Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo


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