SPARKLING DARK COMEDY... FOR LUNCH

Standing In Lifts With Strangers Bewley’s CafeT heatre Until May 21 ★★★★★

The first play to emerge from Bewley’s Percolate programme – launched during Covid to support Irish playwrights – is Standing In Lifts With Strangers. It’s written by Jennifer Laverty, one of seven playwrights selected for a twoyear programme of workshops and collaboration with experienced theatrical professionals.

And it’s one of those short, sparkling little two-hander gems, a comedy with dark undertones, that fits perfectly into a lunchtime slot. It’s 2am and Jo (Nessa Matthews), is just ready to retire for the night. She’s not feeling very sociable after the funeral of her sister Becca, killed in a tragic accident. Yet here’s the enigmatic Fiona (Jennifer Laverty), who has got into her flat, ready for a long chat, and professing that she knew the sisters well from school. That’s news to Jo.

But Fiona, full of inconsequential blather, invites herself to stay for a while to discuss past times and the two sisters. She pours a few drinks to help Jo relax and brighten up. One of Fiona’s strange little hobbies is looking at people in lifts, and she has some offbeat opinions about death, the hereafter and the film Ghost. As the moods swing under the influence of the drink and memories, a few old records get their hips swivelling. Jo loosens up, and they share opinions about funerals and the difficulty of

ever knowing anybody well, and thoughts are steered again towards Becca’s death. The writing steers a nice course towards the final resolution between two women who share a lot of memories despite their apparent differences, and they spark well off each other.

Direction by Jeda de Brí keeps things moving briskly, and the excellent set and props by Pai Rathaya make the most of the small stage.

■ Nursey, a new solo comedy show written and performed by real-life medic Aoife Martyn, runs from tomorrow until May 15 at Smock Alley (Boys’ School). There’ll be a whistle-stop tour after the Smock Alley run, with more venues to be added later. See smockalley.com for details.

■ Constellations by Nick Payne runs until June 2 at The Gate. When a quantum physicist meets a beekeeper, who knows what might or might not happen… or might not have happened. See gatetheatre.ie