Maz and Bricks – Awkward Connection
Maz (Playwright Eva O’Connor) and Bricks (Ciaran O’Brian) meet during a tram ride. She’s busy with a piece of box cardboard and a black marker. He egotistically presumes she’s drawing him, while, in fact, the remnant turns out to be a poster for an abortion protest to which she’s on her way. Bricks is going to his ex-wife’s home to visit his four year-old daughter. Both are what the program accurately notes “messy” characters. That and class serve as commonality.
Turned away at his ex’s, Bricks finds himself swept up in the protest and, falling in step with Maz, walks her away to more private conversation. We hear sketches of both their stories. There’s an incident.
This is a seriously talky play. Your ear with grow accustomed to Irish accents, but segueing in and out of poetry as casual dialogue makes speech unnatural, taking us out of the moment. Caring about either person is elusive.
To my mind, Ciaran O’Brian holds his own creating the irritating, yet sympathetic Bricks while Eva O’Connor’s Maz appears undeveloped.
Director Jim Culleton moves his characters upstage and down, standing and sitting evincing little individuality.
Maree Kearns’s Set is innocuous. Costumes are apt.
Previous Fishamble productions have been more successful.
Photos by Lunaria
Fishamble as part of Origin’s 1st Irish Festival presents
Maz and Bricks by Eva O’Connor
Directed by Jim Culleton
59E59 Theaters
Through February 23, 2020
