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| Menin Gate Memorial |
Watching Meeting at Menim Gate in Belfast’s The Mac theatre last week, it struck me that playwright, Martin Lynch, must have the patience and courage of a Jehovah’s Witness selling bibles in Taliban country. How else can you explain Lynch’s dogged devotion to trying to make sense of that awful euphemism known universally as The Troubles?
Previously, Lynch had produced Sam Millar’s stirring play, Brothers in Arms, and Ron Hutchinson’s Paisley and Me. In my view, Meeting at Menim Gate, the third in this trilogy, is the best of the three. Not only that, but I believe this may well be the best writing ever to have oozed from Lynch’s pen. Certainly, it is on a par with his most successful plays, The History of the Troubles (accordin’ to my da), and Chronicles of Long Kesh.
Meeting at Menim Gate is the story of a former prisoner and cross-community Peace and Reconciliation beano to World War 1 graveyards in Belguim. As beanos go, this one is hardly extraordinary (in the first half of the play at least) with former foes doing what former foes do when they leave behind home shores: drinking pints to beat the band and becoming best mates – until they return to their respective homesteads. Beyond the drinking and merry-making, the potential for love is in the air when Liz, whose policeman father had been shot dead by the IRA, falls for Terry, a former IRA lifer. But what price love when Liz finds out that Terry killed her father? Can Liz forgive and forget?
This play is stuffed with humour, pathos, and at times, gut-wrenching horror. Don’t pay to see Meeting at Menim Gate if you only like happy stories with happy endings. If you want to be challenged and entertained in equal measure – as I was – go watch it. You won’t be disappointed.
with former foes doing what former foes do when they leave behind home shores: drinking pints to beat the band and becoming best mates – until they return to their respective homesteads
ReplyDeleteAint that the truth. I've lost count the number of people who I've met from the opposite side of the oxymorons since I left Belfast..and got very drunk with them. But I know I couldn't do it in Belfast, unless I kept my back to a wall or kept looking over my shoulder.
good piece Richard. Looks a good one to see
ReplyDeleteMartin Lynch the playwright should know more than most the intricacies of the mindset of those involved in our recent grubby past and how opinions and mindsets can be changed,Martin has used his revolutionary past to good effect and tells a compelling tale,not usally a fan of norn iorn related stories Billy being the exception,but Richards account has stirred something of interest in how this particular scenario pans out,might make a change from Corrie and Emmerdale..
ReplyDeleteAye I was in Belfast city centre during the week at 10ish and wondering what the hussle and bussle was about, now I know.
ReplyDeleteI will defo go and see this, watched the others, will give it a spin.
The Tommy and Hun died for the King and Kaiser so that 100 years later the Chuckys and pro brits could get pissed over their graves-
ReplyDeleteAnd people call the Great war a
Stupid struggle in the mud-
ReplyDelete'To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old lie; Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.'
Wilfred Owen
Robert we have a saying that is attributed to Ernie O Malley and it fits our politicians perfectly "it is easy to sleep on another mans wounds" Wilfred Owen was a fine poet and a very brave man ,
ReplyDeleteGreat piece Richard.
ReplyDeleteI keep telling myself, well my wife does. That we should go to some plays. Perhaps we shall indeed.
A take from a loyalist perspective on this play
ReplyDeletejust clicked your link Anthony.
ReplyDeleteInteresting site , loyalist perspective.
Dr coulter has a piece on it, "Not a drop of Loyalist Blood should be spilled in Syria", Meaning Ulster Regiments , "Royal Irish".
Its still an interesting site though.