Presented by BYOB, Cork

Monday, 9th May - Wednesday, 11th May (by Ed Malone, Director: Brian Desmond) T@36 Teachers Club - Irish Shorts at 8pm. Tickets 10 euro (2 plays)

The Be Your Own Banana Theatre Company's production of 'The Self-Obsessed Tragedy of Ed Malone' is a biopic, solo performance, written and performed by Edward Malone, a Cork-born actor, writer and comedian. The play is a darkly comic, eccentrically performed, manic display of urban story-telling. A unique twist on modern, working-class life, the play charts Malone's story through a series of bizarre reminiscences and deranged rants about modern life. His failed romantic endeavours, his experiences as a homosexual-wannabe, his mammy and his daddy, his one job ever, and his failure to handle his drink, all from a central character who clearly watches too many episodes of 'Home & Away' for his own good!

Show Reviews

"Be Your Own Banana productions brought a vibrant and energetic "Cork perspective" to the Dublin Festival with this autobiographical one man show from Ed Malone. You had no choice but to sit up and listen to the often rhythmic, well constructed, tale of growing up "different" in Cork in the 80s and 90s. Malone used his considerable street entertaining skills to hold the attention of his audience - but this was real theatre. The coordination of lighting and stage movement was superb (John Mc Carthy- Technical Director). Brian Desmond's direction was inventive, mobile and created constant opportunities for visual interest and stimulation. We had one character on an empty black stage and at all times lighting that defies the fringe feel of this festival, created and captured many theatrical moments magnificently. The cueing was superb. Malone presented a set of characters from a child's perspective – the teacher, the parents, his friends and colleagues. He used the "Fred Elliot" technique of repetition for emphasis and emitted an incredible internal volcano of energy, passion and anger. The stripping away of his own character and life experiences was brave and disturbing. We met a wounded Malone, still giving his best, but burdened by low self esteem which he derided (but we didn't), while maintaining the ambition that goes with youth. His stage movement was agile and artistic. His eyes were used for great comic effect only to mask the dramatic impact of what is really a very dark piece. Malone, for all his rebellion, is still fighting for the storybook interpretation of life and love, that is cruelly created for children, who are never told that it won't and can't come true. Malone with his writing and acting talents should turn onto the next page of life and write his own future, leaving the scars of the past behind him, while exploiting the considerable opportunities his talents create for him, for a more fulfilling adult journey." - Gordon Farrell, Scene City - June 2005