Writer: Conor McPherson
Director: Ian Higham
Reviewer: Christine Stanton
“Poker & Poitín“
3.5 / 5
It’s Christmas Eve – Sharky is back in Dublin after working away, is 3 days sober and already exasperated from looking after his blind brother Richard.
Richard’s (Ian Cooke) main priority is to drink as much as possible and get into the festive spirit – uninterested in tidying up or showering, despite Sharky (Eugene Duffy) begging him to do so. His best friend Ivan (James Ross Turner) has been kicked out by his wife for getting drunk, and is happily seeking refuge at Richard’s house alongside their many glasses of Irish whiskey. A trip to the off license results in the pair inviting Nicky (Nick Thomas) and his friend Mr Lockhart (Matthew Flexman) over for a boozy game of poker, but the stakes are high, and tensions are fraught – with no telling who will wind up being the winner.
Simon Crump’s set design ensures that the moment the audience enter the room, the cosy pre-Christmas atmosphere is rife, if not slightly old-fashioned looking and scruffy, with beer cans littering the table and crisp packets adorning the floor. It’s the first indication into the brother’s relationship – Sharky starts cleaning the moment he wakes up, while Richard is eager for a hair of the dog. The pair bite at each other in the way siblings do – Sharky frustrated at Richard’s uncaring attitude, Richard infuriated with Sharky not letting his hair down and enjoying Christmas. Ivan’s introduction serves as a leveller between the two brothers, easy-going and cheerful, he’s likeable and endearing, if you can set aside the fact he’s abandoned his family over Christmas for a boozeup!
The first act spends a lot of time introducing the characters and establishing their personalities – and could easily be shortened for more impact and intrigue. There is a lot of slapstick and toilet humour – spilt food, blocked toilets, phlegming and general grossness, which is off-putting rather than comedic, and lowers the initial tone of the show somewhat. Nicky and Mr Lockhart’s arrival immediately injects new life into the show, and takes it on a different course, which is much more entertaining and enjoyable, leading into a captivating second act that completely hooks the audience.
The reason it feels so different is because the second half of the show focuses mainly on the poker game between the five – but also allows various grievances and interactions to take place more naturally. Nicky is dating Sharky’s ex, with the tension brilliantly shown, Sharky’s past is explored further, with some intriguing revelations, Ivan and Richard’s friendship becomes humorous and also quite sweet, while Mr Lockhart’s mysterious, and unnerving presence adds a fantastically uncomfortable element to the interactions. The final poker game is a nail-biter, and the suspense is palpable as winners prevail and losers come to terms with their fate.
The cast of five work brilliantly together – and believably portray a group of friends, and acquaintances very well. Turner and Thomas are light-hearted and fun, their characters keeping the party alive and doing their best to simmer any underlying tension. Duffy ensures Sharky’s introverted, quieter persona doesn’t get lost in the group, while Cooke gives a cheekiness and strength to Richard, that helps him take his blindness in his stride, rather than letting it get him down. Flexman adds a wonderful sinister quality to Mr Lockhart, that, as his role in the group is outlined, fits him perfectly. The supernatural elements come as a surprise, but are worked well into the production, without feeling gimmicky, and instead helping to further expand on the relationships between the five well-written characters.
Runs until 24th October 2026
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