Displaying items by tag: Eanna Hardwicke

PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD: NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE.

UK, 2026, 145 minutes, Colour.

Nicola Coughlan, Eanna Harwicke, Siobhan McSweeney, Declan, Conlan, Lorcan Cranitch.

Directed by Caitriona McLaughlin.

The film version of the celebrated play by John Millington Synge, first performed in Dublin in 1907.

For those interested in the background of the play, of the career of Synge, of the riots and antagonism towards the play on its first performance, subsequent attacks in Ireland and the US, there is a very detailed entry about the play in Wikipedia, well worth reading as background to the experience of the National Theatre Live interpretation.

The most important aspect of the play is the use of the rhythms, cadences, emphases, grammar complexities, particular vocabulary of the Irish-English. Those who are able to respond to it, there is constant delight and wonder in listening. On the other hand, looking at comments on some reviews, it is clear that it is too much for some audiences. But, it is essential for appreciating the Irishness.

As regards the plot itself, is very much a mirror to Ireland in olden days, an Ireland of the 19^th century and the early 20^th century, not immediately familiar to 21^st-century audiences but an opportunity to go back into the past. However, in its time, many considered it an insult to Ireland, Irish life and values, a critique, sometimes satiric, sometimes raucous, especially of Irish men, a blend of old faith, the hardships of the 19^th century, British rule, drinking, celebration, races…

And the title? At the centre is Christy Mahon, on the West Coast, single, younger, wandering for ten days thinking that in his bashing his father, he has killed him. And, little love lost between father and son. The first part of the play has him arriving at a rural pub in County Mayo, becoming infatuated with Pegeen, daughter of the owner, sdreving at the pub, and she is engaged to a rather simple, righteous young man who is continually quoting the church, reference to Father Reilly (not seen) and his influence on him and life in the village. There is a rather large supporting cast of men and women of the village, but especially a very lively widow who takes a shine to Christy Mahon.

In the second, shorter act, his father turns up with his wound, trying to track down his son, the son, now something of a hero, infatuated with Pegeen, her turning against him, the townspeople listening to the father and getting a rope to attack Christy. Romantic expectations are turned upside down and, at the end, there is a wailing lament by Pegeen.

The staging is interesting, the interior of the pub, but a backdrop of landscape and the actors able to move from one side to another describing a race that they are watching from a distance. And, with the backdrop, it can even rain. And, in the Irish vein, musicians and chorus move along the back, into the action and transforming the stage set, many of them covered with the historic mumming headgear. Irish atmosphere and some keening.

Nicola Coughlan (many episodes of Bridgerton and so lively in The Magic Faraway Tree) is a lively Pegeen. Eanna Hardwicke, sinister in The Sixth Commandment, confronting in Saipan, may appeal to some audiences with sympathy in his somewhat naive simplicity after the death of his father. On the other hand, some may consider his performance too eccentric, sometimes over the top. A very favourable comment on Declan Conlan as the drunk owner of the pub, one of the most persuasive stage performances of someone drunk.

Many favourable reviews exhorting audiences to appreciate the Irish English rhythms. A number of reviews who found the play eccentric, over the top, rushed and unsympathetic.

Since its first performance, Playboy of the Western world has been confronting.

SAIPAN

Ireland, 2025, 91 minutes, Colour.

Eanna Hardwick, Steve Coogan, Peter McDonald.

Lisa Barros D'Sa, Glenn Leyburn.

Football (Soccer for those from Downunder) has a vast world following so this story, from the 2002 World Cup will be of considerable interest, for those who remember vividly, for those who are learning the history. For those not familiar with football, the recommendation is to continue watching because the drama builds up to a strong confrontation, personality conflicts.

And the title? The island of the Northern Marianas in the Pacific, the venue for the specialised training of the Irish team before it transfers to Japan for the competition matches. Saipan has an interesting history, well worth investigating, here with some footage from World War II. The Canary Islands, Tenerife, provided the location for Saipan here.

Saipan introduces its central character, champion footballer, Roy Keane, destined from his childhood talent to achieve great things. In fact, he captained Manchester United under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson. And, so, chosen to be the captain of the Irish team for the World Cup. The other central character for this film is Mike McCarthy, English of Irish descent, player for the Irish team for many years, now its manager.

Roy Keane is played broodingly by Eanna Hardwick (excellent as the sinister conman in the series, The Sixth Commandment). Steve Coogan, veteran of so many dramas and comedies, is persuasive as Mike McCarthy.

On arrival in Saipan, the team finds all kinds of limitations, including the non-arrival even of footballs. The football pitch has potholes. The accommodation is a mixture of luxury and broken down air-conditioners, Keane has his special breakfast, the others having sandwiches, the players being rather more carefree, the management concerned and worried, and Roy Keane becoming more and more individualistic.

He complains. He is aloof. He phones home. He upsets himself, continually criticising the conditions, increasingly moody. The screenplay, offers an initial acknowledgement that this is a true story tweaked. To many, Keane was a hero, hard done by. For others he was spoilt and cantankerous. The screenplay here opts for the latter.

The key scene is the final confrontation, after Keane gives a warts and all interview to a journalist, his standing up to Mike McCarthy, clash of egos, Keane stubborn, petulant, refusing to stand down.

Football lovers will know that what happened in reality. Audiences who do not will be intrigued to discover what actually happened to Ireland in the World Cup, 2002 (and some actual footage during the final credits).

1. An Irish story, a football story, a personality clash story?
2. Audience knowledge of the characters and occasion, Irish perspective, world perspective, for those knowing nothing about football?
3. The background history, Ireland, football, World Cup ambitions? McCarthy, British and Irish background, playing Ireland? Manager of the team? Roy Keane, the scenes of his childhood, talent and ambitions, player for Manchester United, contact with Alex Ferguson?
4. The introduction to Roy Keane, as a boy, talent, playing for England, phone call with Ferguson? The captain in the World Cup team, with the other players, friendly, aloof?
5. Mike McCarthy, his personality, managing the team? His assistants, the other members of the team?
6. The preparation for the match in Saipan? The flight, the accommodation, the hotel, the limitations of the football field, poor air-conditioning, the food, the sandwiches…? Get the welcome, the players adapting? The managing team and press conferences? The television coverage?
7. The limitations, the probable is not arriving? The practice sessions, the sauna, golf, partying? The indications of the countdown to the World Match?
8. The character of Roy Keane, his manner, presumptions, player for Manchester United, his aloofness, his special breakfast? Interactions with the other members of the team? The player with the books and his Kwik? His room, by himself? His complaints, phone calls home? The building up of attention, the confrontations with Mike McCarthy, the other members of the management?
9. Mike McCarthy, managing, limitations, trying to be cheerful? The discussions with Roy Keane? The buildup of the tensions, the complaints, his deciding to go home, the pressure on the management, discussions, persuasion? The media?
10. The interview, his offloading all his complaints, the promise not to publish it before the match, the publication, the impact for the players, the management, for Roy Keane himself? The advice to offer an apology?
11. The buildup to the meeting, the confrontation, Roy Keane and all his complaints, standing firm, abusing Mike McCarthy? Audience sympathy for him, for his complaints?
12. Mike McCarthy, his decisions, worrying, the screaming moment, knocking on the door, offering the opportunities, decisions, the press conference?
13. The television coverage, the commentary, the people in the street, for and against?
14. Roy Keane flying home, the team going to Japan for training, the continued request lawyer, his stubbornness?
15. The subsequent history of the matches, the success without Roy Keane, missing out actual clips during the final credits?

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT

UK, 2023, 4 X 60 minutes, Colour.

Eanna Hardwicke, Timothy Spall, Anne Reid, Connor MacNeil, Adrian Rawlins, Amanda Root, Sheila Hancock.

Directed by Saul Dibb.

The Sixth Commandment is based on an actual case, that of Ben Field, initially making a very good impression, charming, befriending lonely people, caring for them, but all the time sociopathic behaviour, narcissistic, exploiting those whom he befriended, is one changing their wills, his medicating them, their deaths. Ultimately, the cases were investigated, Ben Field arrested, charged, found guilty.

This is a powerful recreation of two of the stories, Timothy Spall excellent as Peter, a lonely gay academic, and Anne read as Anne, lonely, Ben befriending her, manipulating her, responsible for her death.

While the supporting cast are very effective, the focus is on Eanna Hardwicke as Ben Field, a tour de force performance, always convincing, Connor MacNeil appears as Martin, the young man, also manipulated by Field.

The first episode tells Peter’s story, the second the story of Anne. The third episode shows the police investigations. The fourth episode has Ben Field in court.

Series was written by Sarah Phelps, BBC writer, responsible for several adaptations of Agatha Christie (including the strange ABC Murders with Poirot, played by John Malkovich, revealed to be a priest). The series was directed by Saul Dibb (The Duchess, Journey’s End, Suite Francaise).

A series to be recommended.

1. Based on actual facts? Miniseries treatment?
2. The title, the commandment rhyming with thrill? Kill?
3. The setting of the English village, homes, school, church, the police, the courts? The musical score?
4. Peter’s story, the performance by Timothy Spall, Peter’s life, age, living alone, quietly gay, the Internet and porn, his loneliness, going to the school, his speech and acclaim, his writing novels, keeping extensive diaries? Classes, Martin present, Ben arriving, almost taking over after being late, the quotes? The friendship with Ben, in class, his style, sharing with Peter, the visits, the walks, the mountain, the declaration of love, his continued care, Peter’s novel, Martin coming as a boarder, arranging the printing of the novel, the launch, Peter’s medical condition, Ben’s continued treatment, Ben and his concern, audience suspicions? Peter’s erratic behaviour, hospital, drinking, his death, the sadness? Ben and his eulogy in the church?
5. Peter’s brother and his wife, the bonds with Peter, their concern, the visits, believing Ben?
6. Anne’s story, neighbour to Peter, her dog in the street? Ben, friendly, the attack and their talking, his flattering her? her age, life and career, alone? Her niece and the visits, the family? Ben, growing friendship, moving in, the religious dimension, his alleged studies for priesthood, wearing the vestments in the house, giving communion? The messages on the mirror? Her medication, changing her will? The lease, busy, the phone calls? Anne and her illness, the institution, the discussions, Ben and his eulogy?
7. The focus on the investigations, the police and their personalities, the detectives, the chief detective taking over? Anne’s niece, the interrogations, the growing focus on Ben? Background to Ben Peter, Ian and his wife? The issue of the diaries, the search, and having taken some? Looking for clues? The persistent officer examining the documents? The charges? Ben getting out, his continued politeness, Martin and his fear, Ben controlling him?
8. The court, the detectives and their evidence, collecting the evidence, Ian and his wife, collaboration, Anne’s niece and her husband, disruption to her family life? Ben, acting the part, seeing him in flashbacks, his words, as defence that he was literary, imaginative, writing down the words rather than action? The rap themes, his denials?
9. The reconstruction of the death sequences and their impact?
10. The jury, Martin released, Ben guilty, Ian and his wife, reaction, 26’s niece?
11. The portrait of a psychotic, sociopath, charm, narcissistic, the evil that he brought on innocent people, exploitation?