Armagh Project 2015

Dublin has been fantastic to just wonder around and people watch. During the day, it’s filled with tourists and at night every one is hurrying to their favorite bar. There is so much to do here, but I find myself lacking in the amount of time I would need to truly enjoy Dublin to its fullest. I know everyone says “go to the Guinness factory”; well, for once, everyone was right. Even if you don’t do the tour group, it’s a sight to see and it’s an experience you will never forget.

I see a lot of others have been doin’ poems as their responses lately; that’s pretty cool and I wish I had started this earlier so that I would’ve been able to write one up for my Dublin impressions. But, since I haven’t really opened my laptop until today, I’ll just settle with my usual feedback.

Hmmmm…Dublin. It simply seems like a city in Ireland to me. That’s not me saying that I don’t like it, because, trust me, I’ve had a right bloody blast so far just chillin’ with my new writer friends, exploring a bit on my own, and experiencing a wee bit of city nightlife (also done with my new writer friends). It seems like whenever I hear that somebody I know went to Dublin, they almost ALWAYS say, “Yeah, I went to Dublin; saw the Guiness factory.” This always struck me as odd because I didn’t understand what the hell could be so interesting about a factory that makes beer, so I figured I’d investigate. Damn. That place is a must-see. It’s like a big, highly decorated beer mall. They also give you a voucher for a free pint; needless to say, it was probably the best I’ve ever had and possibly ever will have again, and not just because there was a little shamrock drawn into the foam at the top.

The actor’s workshop was fascinating as well. I can’t say I’ve ever done such a dramatic set of warm-ups before playing a role in a film, but I suppose it all depends on the medium. If I was on set at another art-house production in Ithaca, waiting to be killed off in some eerie fashion (I die in most films that I’m in; call me American Sean Bean), I don’t think me going around like”ooooOOOOOuuuooooOOOOOuuuuu” would occur unnoticed. As for the play itself, I think what really struck me (and what hasn’t been mentioned as much) was the choreography. Not only did all the actors know how to operate every little movement of their bodies, they also seemed to be at one with gravity itself. Consider the part where Saemus’s suspender straps spring away as he bends over or the bit where Donal flawlessly pours the milk into Minnie’s cup. Nessa also mentioned today about how Donal was like a parody of Yeats, which I wish I picked up on while we were actually studying the play, because I can completely see that in retrospect.

In short, Dublin’s cool.

Dear playwrights, remember I suggested to Bryonna that she take a look at Brian Friel’s play, Faith Healer, as an example of a story structured around monologues. (And also a fine example of different versions of the same story.)

Here’s a clip of the great Ralph Fiennes performing Frank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA2wl0X1XGc

Enjoy.

As we walked along the North King Street back to our hotel, calls of protest stopped us. The protesters blocked a lane of traffic as they marched, and the police showed up quickly. We think the protest focused on a housing complaint.

Later, when we told fellow faculty Nessa O’Mahony of the experience, she nodded. “Protests daily.”

I like that the Irish stand up. Good for you to care about your community enough to walk through an open lane of road and swing a sign.

There is definitely something
to entering the play a week before
to being ms.henderson
to spending time in the theater
on the stage
breathing
and owning it all.

to see the characters
come to life
to be shadows
of the things I know
of the ways we
tend to be
in the heart and thick
of tension
and dispair.

the way they search
for comfort, like Marish
and Kevin, and Olumandar
and the african girls who
did not want to talk
because they were dressed
to dance and forget.

I loved the way the play
reminded me and
talked to me
about home.

I was not expecting that performance of Shadow of a Gunman.

When the play began, I was immediately struck by the main actor’s range of facial expressions and emotions. His face erupted in smiles and frowns quicker than I would’ve thought possible, his voice screeched and moaned with drama, and he shed tears more than once. It was wonderful. I never expected to get hit with such array of feelings, poured so carefully into every word at the audience. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the main actor.

Another thing that stood out to me was the performance by the Grigson’s. Both actors did an amazing job, enough so that I was physically cringing during their scenes because of the harshness of their relationship.

The one interpretation I wasn’t as much a fan of was the relationship between Minnie and Donal. When I read the play, I read it more sweet and I didn’t see the raw sexuality as much. However, I did think it was unique, and I like that they took the risk.

Overall, I thought the Abbey theatre did a really fantastic job with the play.

Hey All —
This is a serious draft. More to structure and polish come later.

dublin, 7/11/15

the small cracks are empty
the ceilings are not blankets
of survival. we do not exist
the same as in the country side.

the city of dublin does not
boast the existence of others:
those attempting to survive,
the way of moss
and the disenfranchised.

Marish did not want to
mention the way it is.
He had accepted the
survival and decided
not to complain. when
the irishman rolled up
to his window and
shouted to go back to
his country, we were
all mocked. we were
all aware.

Mr. Hopkins told us
about the beauty of
dublin. How all its
monuments were
perfect for a day
of tourist adventure;
how all the jobs for
the immigrants were
taken from the irish.
how the irish didn’t
need to be taken
for their wealth
how we were all
suffering.

I blacked out
as I always do, when white
men try to dominate me,
the way they have always done.
I looked at this one and repossessed
what had always been mine.
I continued on my way,
into the arms of a Nigerian,
who like his country men
before him, professed love
too quickly to not hint
of transaction and opportunity;
outside the Temple Bar,
the bouncer said I talked
too much, and again I walked
past – waving my hand and
accepting a good time.
Kevin had an easy smile
and a light laugh. The flash
in his eyes when I mentioned
melanin made us all smile.
Olumandar’s tongue was
heavy with home when
it danced that we
are all human, we
all deserve to live.

there are certain ways
I have learned to survive;
the bending and swaying to
ills. The awkward parts of nothing
that turns into something, reflective
of a bigger thing, the names of it
which weigh down the poem
and our lives.

by the end of it
I had ignored it.
Dismissed more than
I care to – on a usual night

had already admitted defeat;
had gotten off the plane
knowing there is no place
where my melanin is free;
there is no place, no corner
where I can exist, in peace.

I will have to survive
like the moss hugging
the high and quiet places
as a means, to survive.

I would definitely say that The production of The Shadow of a Gunman exceeded my expectations. After reading the play a few times and taking the workshop earlier that morning I was able to really appreciate the play. The cast did a fantastic job and kept my attention the entire time. Donal Davoren surprised me the most, I didn’t realize he was such a comedic character, in fact I didn’t realize the play was as comedic as they portrayed it to be. Overall I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed the play, I would definitely give them two thumbs up.

Shadow of a Gunman was an interesting play but i was shock to see how much movement the actors did during the play. When I read the play it seemed like Donald did not move much from his chair, but the play had him moving all around the play. Donald used up all the space in the theater like a child does on a new play ground. I also pleasantly surprised that instead of an intermission the actors quickly set up the stage and shown what might of been happening during the time the Arthur did not right about.

Dublin is its own world within Ireland. Though it is full of Irish history, it is also of people from all over the world, and that seems to have shaped its culture.

So many things here remind me of any other city I’ve been to. The burgers taste American. The bartenders know what a Long Island iced tea is. Pop music is heard more often than Irish folk. The people come from everywhere and it shows.

I would say that Dublin is an international hub, which makes it a different world than the rest of the country. I love it here, because I love cities and because its comforting to be reminded of home by the little things.