THE IRISH CURSE                

THE STAG, VICTORIA

You would think a play about five men lamenting about the size of their penis would  have limited dramatic scope, but Martin Casella’s play manages to create an enjoyable ensemble piece that engages from beginning to end. 

In line with the American obsession with therapy, Father Shaunessey runs a support group in the basement of a Brooklyn church for men suffering from the ‘The Irish Curse’- other wise known as a small penis. Regulars include Joseph a well mannered Southerner who is separated from his wife, Stephen a pseudo macho cop and Rick a sports student. Into the mix arrives Keiran, a young Irish man in a panic about his impending marriage and the inevitability of revealing his tiny appendage to his partner. As the latter processes his emotions, he manages to challenge the group’s weekly whinge fest of blaming everything that is wrong in their lives on their dick size. Their mantra is “I am not my penis, I only think I am,” and through mutual support their self esteem develops and they move some way towards believing it.

It’s a revealing observation of how men judge their masculinity in a modern society where they have been conditioned to believe that  ‘size is every thing.’

The play offers laughs as well as pathos and is very thought provoking. However it is not without it’s flaws. Often the script is smothered in schmaltz and their are more group hugs in this drama than in a Disneyland park. Casella’s characters come dangerously close to being cliché spouting stereotypes, but under David Zak’s able direction the talented cast manage to bring dimension and humanity to their roles. All the performances are compelling and make the 90 minutes fly by.

This is for anyone who wants the extra feel good factor. Catch it while you can.

Kiel O Shea (Rick), James Bickmore-Hutt (Stephen), James Butler (Kieran), Francis Adams (Joseph) and Donal Cox (Father Kevin)