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The doggy bag will never catch on in Paris Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia Life Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia Sections * Film * Music * Books * Pipe Band Digest * Stage * Irish language Stories Tá bliain chorraitheach chinniúnach roimh Fhorbairt Feirste Irish language Tá bliain chorraitheach chinniúnach roimh Fhorbairt Feirste Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Arts Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Cult Movie: Day Of The Outlaw as much noir as Western Film Cult Movie: Day Of The Outlaw as much noir as Western Oscars 2016 - Ten great Irish Oscar moments Film Oscars 2016 - Ten great Irish Oscar moments Sections * Family Notices * Lives Remembered Stories Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars Lives Remembered Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars Lord Erne of Crom Castle was popular figure in Fermanagh Lives Remembered Lord Erne of Crom Castle was popular figure in Fermanagh ‘My brother loved to entertain with his music' Lives Remembered ‘My brother loved to entertain with his music' Falls Road artist was grand old man of sci-fi's golden age Notices Falls Road artist was grand old man of sci-fi's golden age Sections * Letters to the Editor * Leading article * Cartoons * Columnists Stories Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme Columnists Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Columnists Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Cologne attacks highlight push to extremes Columnists Cologne attacks highlight push to extremes Time for a genuine Fresh Start at Stormont Leading article Time for a genuine Fresh Start at Stormont Sections * Photo of the Day * Graduation pictures * Picture galleries * Video diaries Stories Belfast Zoo animals enjoy the snow Picture Galleries Belfast Zoo animals enjoy the snow New Year celebrations from around the world Picture Galleries New Year celebrations from around the world Storm Frank lashes Ireland Picture Galleries Storm Frank lashes Ireland Harland & Wolff Welders win the Steel & Sons Cup 2015 Picture Galleries Harland & Wolff Welders win the Steel & Sons Cup 2015 (BUTTON) Irishnews Logo (BUTTON) * Login User / Logout * Subscriptions * Home * Today's paper * News Sections + Back + Northern Ireland news + UK News + Republic of Ireland news + World news + Political news + Education news + Healthcare news + Nama + Refugee Crisis * Sport Sections + Back + GAA Football + GAA Fixtures + Club Call + Hurling and camogie + Soccer + Boxing + Rugby + Golf + Athletics + Off The Fence + Racing + Opinion + Other Sports * Business Sections + Back + July Budget + Business news + Economics + Personal finance + Business columnists + Business Insight + Markets * Life Sections + Back + Family and Parenting + Property + Holidays & Travel + Fashion & Beauty + Motors/drive + Food & drink + Celebrity + Gardening + Environment + Health + Faith Matters + TV and Radio * Arts Sections + Back + Film + Music + Books + Pipe Band Digest + Stage + Irish language * Notices Sections + Back + Family Notices + Lives Remembered * Opinion Sections + Back + Letters to the Editor + Leading article + Cartoons + Columnists * Puzzles * Photos Sections + Back + Photo of the Day + Graduation pictures + Picture galleries + Video diaries * Our journalists * Horoscopes ____________________ (BUTTON) Search (BUTTON) News Star turns shine in biting satire on modern Ireland Star turns shine in biting satire on modern Ireland * * * * * 18 April, 2015 00:00 REVIEW LALLY THE SCUT The MAC Belfast A BBIE Spallen's new play, Lally the Scut, which opened at The MAC this week, shows the award-winning dramatist to be both poet and pathologist. It opens with pregnant-again "pikey" Lally trying to locate her toddler son who has become stuck down a well near their home in border country. She and mother-in-law Edna bemoan the fact nobody's helping in language that is by turns coarse, funny and moving. Spallen's skill at dissecting our society shows when it becomes clear Lally herself was once stuck down the same well, with her rescue gaining international headlines. She talks about the skin-covered dark containing horrific memories. So history repeats itself and nothing really moves on, which is Spallen's theme. As Lally says near the start, could the cause of her trouble be that "big fat dirty finger of years of bad luck never over jabbin' and pokin' me in the eye". For Lally, read Ireland. Eventually, we meet the neighbours. In one scene the audience becomes part of a bigoted town meeting about the affair during which Lally, the outsider, is royally insulted. Nobody is spared and in the second half, there is a satirical spoof of Sinn Fein and the party's awkward attempt to gloss over the Troubles. Tara Lynne O'Neill is superb as the female politician who can't quite get her mouth or mind round the new euphemisms. This means she and henchman Fork the Cat need to persuade Lally to get the rescue strategy altered to avoid turning up any unfortunate reminders of the past. Favours are required, including a visit to a deranged, sexually predatory priest. In the midst of all this, we have a decent critique of media hypocrisy via locally born journalist Owen, now based in Hampstead. His desire to save Lally is compromised by the journalist's eternal commitment to getting the exclusive. There are some stellar performances in this Tinderbox production under Michael Duke's direction and Roisin Gallagher in the title role is truly memorable. Of course, it turns out, just as Lally's tortured mother - played by the excellent Maria Connolly - buried her in the well, so her hapless husband Francis lured his young son underground with toys, to make some money for treats. "You're nothing in the new Ireland without a trampoline..." he moans. The repeat disaster is therefore self-inflicted. * Until May 2, themaclive.co.uk. Jane Hardy * * * * * 18 April, 2015 00:00 News More in News PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' DUP lack necessary 'element of skill' for Guinness records honour DUP lack necessary 'element of skill' for Guinness records honour Rembrandt masterpiece on display at Ulster Museum Rembrandt masterpiece on display at Ulster Museum Most Read * Beware of tax on gifting property to family members * Increase in babies born with 'tongue-tie' * Diagnosing Dyspraxia in your child * Irishman in breastfeeding London Underground row Today's horoscope Horoscope __________________________________________________________________ See a different horoscope: [Select sign] Stay connected Get the day's headlines delivered directly to your inbox ____________________ (BUTTON) Sign Up __________________________________________________________________ Sections News PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' 1. PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' 2. Families question delays in charging 'Stakeknife' Life Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia 1. Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia 2. Cairn Wood: Battle to save amenity from being sold off Business ‘The Jungle' named ‘thrilling' at Outdoor NI Awards 1. ‘The Jungle' named ‘thrilling' at Outdoor NI Awards 2. Northern Ireland's top buildings come under the spotlight Arts Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level 1. Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level 2. Catch up with: The X-Files on Amazon Prime Columnists Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme 1. Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme 2. Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Sport Ross McGowan leads Joburg Open at the halfway point 1. Ross McGowan leads Joburg Open at the halfway point 2. 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