Piano man Jeremy D'Wolfe McCarthy doesn't know it yet but this is his last gig...
No Citation, an original play written and performed by Kyron Bourke, is currently running at the Lyric Theatre and is the perfect show for music lovers and theatre enthusiasts alike.
The one-act play follows musician McCarthy breaking into a derelict piano bar as he attempts to treat the audience to an evening of his greatest hits before being faced by the ghosts of his past.
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Having studied Drama at University, I was once a regular at the likes of the Lyric but haven't been to a play since the pandemic and this was the perfect performance to welcome me back and give me the thrill of watching live art.
Performed in the Naughton Studio, the intimate setting definitely lent itself to the atmosphere of the play - we really did feel like we were sitting watching McCarthy perform in the likes of Bert's Jazz Bar, where Bourke is actually a regular himself.
Welcomed by McCarthy already at the piano playing away at the keys, the performance was definitely an immersive experience which had the audience gripped from the get-go.
Although I really was not sure what to expect as jazz music is not usually top of my Spotify playlist, I was blown away by the sheer talent of everyone involved.
Kyron Bourke's piano and vocal talents speak for themselves but to sit for the entire show and play to the incredible standard that he did is worth buying tickets for alone - joined by Maeve Smyth as 'Everywoman' and Pádraig Dooney as 'Midnight' Hawkins, the trio's musical skill will not leave you disappointed.
Smyth's classical jazz voice and Dooney's mesmerising saxophone playing were something I hadn't expected from the show but something I will not forget anytime soon. The addition of the trumpet and drums by the band hidden in the gauze behind the set really enhanced what was unfolding on the stage.
If you are someone who doesn't enjoy the typical play or musical, I would highly recommend No Citation as I almost felt I was watching a live concert and was allowed to listen in on the chatter that goes on off mic in between songs.
Going in knowing that McCarthy is on his last legs did definitely give me a sense of foreboding before it kicked off and I wasn't sure whether this was going to be one where I left laughing or was going to leave devastated.
There were great laughs and some really touching moments as McCarthy interacts with the ghost of his old bandmate and a representation of all the women he ever loved and the play moves ever so smoothly as we listen to him try to set the record straight.
The drama student in me also really appreciated the set-up of the production - the simple staging of just a man and his piano fit the piece incredibly well and the lightbulb spotlights backlighting McCarthy throughout was enough to transport us away from the Lyric and into the jazz bar with him.
No Citation ends on Sunday, May 8 so if you are looking for something a little different this weekend, get yourself down to South Belfast for a show like no other.
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