Review by Dominic Corr
More than many recent years, the ties of spoken word and storytelling have found themselves at the heart of the Festival Fringe’s theatre/comedy circuits, winning awards and accolades. Storytelling is Theatre. And Theatre is storytelling. Writer, performer, and stand-up Edward Tripp delves into the various murky mind corners to ignite an intensive fire of comedy and poetry in their new piece, a play on John Donne’s mediative ‘Every man is an island’ with a distinctive Northern Irish twist.
A roaring fire of absurd wit, as the stoke fires of humour and spoken word, No Man is an Ireland is a captivating one-act piece which is likely to leave a lasting impact on audiences – far more than its short time may initially suggest. Impressively and quite touchingly, Tripp doesn’t so much straddle or have one foot in the camps of comedy and storytelling but instead finds perfect harmony between them – each element of humour accentuating the spoken word, each poetic structure lifting stories to new heights.
Tripp’s poetic moments are a treat, cohesive and engaging, and for newcomers, is the finest introduction to the marvels of spoken word. In a manner in which poetry access, small moments within the performance initially feel fragmented – only to come together in a more comprehensive narrative structure, clever and hitting the comedic punches harder. Drawing the audience in is easy for Tripp, a natural talent and pleasant presence to be around as they balance satire and sincerity effortlessly.
It means some structure is disjointed, even when the overall structure becomes more apparent. The depth is always present but occasionally loses its potency with the audience if they’ve become distracted or haven’t caught up. But where it strikes, especially with the more personal and family revelations (and jokes of Uncles and wives), it will resonate with audiences. Not quite experimental comedy but a touch of experimental poetry, No Man is an Ireland is bold storytelling and spoken word which appeals to both, and those who sit at the crossroads of the pair will find absolute brilliance.
Review by Dominic Corr (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Editor for Corr Blimey, and a freelance critic for Scottish publications, Dominic has been writing freelance for several established and respected publications such as BBC Radio Scotland, The Scotsman, The List, The Skinny, Edinburgh Festival Magazine, The Reviews Hub, In Their Own League, and The Wee Review. As of 2023, he is a member of the Critic’s Award for Theatre Scotland (CATS) and a member of the UK Film Critics.
