PPP: Feis
★★☆☆☆ Scattergun
Traverse: Tue 23 – Sat 27 Sept 2025
Review by Hugh Simpson
Feis by Anna McGrath, the latest Play, Pie and a Pint from Òran Mór at the Traverse, is a cheerful but lightweight comedy that tries to go in too many directions at once.
Deirdre (Louise Haggerty) is a one-time Irish dancing world champion who now supports her dance school with an unusual sideline in Irish dance-based webcamming.
Louise Haggerty, Leah Balmforth and Julie Coombe in Feis. Pic Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
Deirdre is also desperate for her school to produce another competition winner, but a mishap for her daughter Aoife (Leah Balmforth) seems to put an end to that. Deirdre’s mother Maura (Julie Coombe) is not slow in letting any other potential competitors know where their shortcomings may be.
There are several other plot lines on the go in a frenetic hour – about blackmail, Ireland, the desire to win at all costs, and family secrets – many of which remain frustratingly undeveloped and few of which convince.
In its desire for laughs (and corresponding lack of nuance) it all starts to look like a pitch for a sitcom. However, all of the potential storylines for a whole series have been stuffed into one play, with unfortunate results. The ending, moreover, is not made any the less nonsensical by being so clearly telegraphed.
a good deal of energy
While there is a good deal of energy, and considerable humour, there is very little in the way of subtlety. At times, it seems to be trying hard to shock, but it is difficult to get too exercised. It is just as difficult to get too involved in what happens to characters who are very much on the wrong side of grotesque. This means that any impact that the content might have, about family relationships and the Irish diaspora, is somewhat lost.
Brian James O’Sullivan in Feis. Pic Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
The cast attack it all with considerable gusto; Haggerty has excellent timing, Coombe has real energy, and Balmforth provides a relatively calm centre. However, there is little they, or Laila Noble’s kinetic direction, can do to stop the whole thing lacking focus.
Play, Pie and a Pint stalwart Brian James O’Sullivan provides composition, live music and the occasional voice, and is in many ways the best thing about a production that provides some laughs but little in the way of coherent drama.
Running time: One hour (no interval)
Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge St, EH1 2ED
Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 September 2025
Daily at 1.00 pm
Tickets and details: Book here.
ENDS
