12 metrolife Monday, February 8, 2010 D About Town THE HOTTEST TICKETS IN TOWN We have five pairs of tickets to see CHRIST DELIVER US! at The Abbey, Wed, 7.30pm For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the question below to life@metroherald.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With the answer include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18 or over. Q. Christ Deliver Us! is loosely based on which 19th century play? A Spring Awakening B The Importance Of Being Earnest Xavier Rudd Australian singer-songwriter whos built up an impressive instrumental repertoire that takes in six- and 12- string guitars, banjos and drums. If you can bang, shake or strum it, he can probably play it Tonight, The Academy, 57 Middle Abbey Street D1, 8pm, 30. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.theacademydublin.com My Gentle Harp Hibernium: A Trip Across The Head Of Ireland The secret of this Mercury-nominated folk acts success lies in the chemistry between its constituent members, but Rachel Unthank (pictured) is the undoubted focal point; her raw, tough voice, with its distinct Geordie accent, suits the songs at the bleak end of the groups spectrum. She seems positively hardboiled by comparison to her young sister and vocalist, Becky. If anyone conformed to the big sister/little sister archetype, its this pair. Rachel has the confidence that comes naturally to those with a headstart in the world and Becky is yin to her yang Mar 28, Whelans, 25 Wexford Street D2, 8pm, 18. Tel: 1890 200 078. www.whelanslive.com Book Now Rachel And The Unthanks metrometro lifeStaying In & Going Out Theatre Interview Eamonn Owens Reformed againcurrently in rehearsals for Thomas Kilroys new play Christ Deliver Us! at the Abbey. The only time I got anxious was when they asked me to wear a bonnet for that scene with Milo. Back then, I didnt know what a bonnet was; we were shooting in a big old industrial school in Kells and there were no mirrors so I wasnt sure what I looked like. I reckoned if I took the bonnet off and even glanced at it Id never put it back on. And filming that day did not quite go to plan. During that scene I was supposed to stab Milo in the neck but the knife didnt retract and I nicked him by accident. Im pretty sure thats the scene they actually used. So, he smiles mischievously, when Milo yelps in the movie hes doing it for real. While Francie Brady has been Owens most high-profile role to date, hes enjoyed a succession of interesting parts both on film and stage: the young Martin Cahill in John Boormans The General, which involved a ridiculous amount of running; while hes toured widely with the stage adaptation of Patrick McCabes The Dead School. And from RTs Amongst Women to Peter Mullans The Magdalene Sisters, hes a regular fixture in dramas that focus on some of the more unsavoury facets of mid-20th century Ireland. His latest role in Kilroys Christ Deliver Us! is no exception. A reworking of Frank Wedekinds 1891 symbolist play Spring Awakening, its an ambitious examination of morality set in 1950s rural Ireland with a 25-strong cast. I play a character called Bulger whos in a reform school, says Owens. Hes there because of circumstances rather than because hes done anything wrong. Hes bullied by the other kids and is troubled by what he sees going on around him, though hes not exactly the sharpest tool in the box. While Wedekinds play was a controversial critique of a sexually- oppressive society, Owens doesnt see Kilroys work as an overt attack on the once formidable Church. I see it more as a play which examines how taboo issues were dealt with during a certain period of Irish history be it an unexpected pregnancy or an unwanted child. It focuses on how people dealt with those subjects and sees the Church as only one facet of that. If it all sounds a little serious, hes quick to point out that theres humour here too. Some of the scenes between the priests in the play are seriously funny and visually its got the wow factor. Theres this ensemble hurling scene near the beginning with all the actors on stage and its amazingly well choreographed and atmospheric. And for an actor whos drawn to roles in Irish drama, could Owens ever imagine leaving his homeland to become a Hollywood leading man? I cant see it happening. Mind you, thats the wonderful thing about acting: it only takes one lucky break to catapult you into the limelight. Christ Deliver Us! runs at The Abbey from tomorrow until Mar 13. www.abbeytheatre.ie During the scene I was supposed to stab Milo in the neck but the knife didnt retract and I nicked him t always comes back to The Butcher Boy, Eamonn Owens (pictured above, second from left) smiles when I quiz him about the role that made him famous. Some actors might understandably be given to eye-rolling when asked questions about a part they played almost 14 years ago but Cavan-born Owens, 27, seems accepting of the fact that for many he will always be synonymous with Francie Brady, the 12-year-old tearaway he played so memorably in Neil Jordans adaptation of Patrick McCabes macabre novel. For a child whod never acted professionally before it was hardly an easy role: after all, in the film Francies mother commits suicide, his alcoholic father (Stephen Rea) drinks himself to death and Francie is placed in a reform school where hes forced to play dress-up for Milo OSheas kiddie-fiddler priest. Not to mention suffering recurring apparitions of Sinad OConnors foul-mouthed Virgin Mary. Did it all feel a little weird for the young non-professional actor who, at the time, hadnt even finished primary school? Not really, says Owens, whos I The Butcher Boy actor tells Daragh Reddin about his new role in a play set in an Irish reformatory ON MY iPOD Adrian Crowleys five-track mix Pianist Una Hunt is joined by a host of friends for an evening of Thomas Moores Irish Melodies including The Minstrel Boy, The Meeting Of The Waters and The Last Rose of Summer Tonight, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace D2, 8pm, 15 to 20. Tel: (01) 417 0000. www.nch.ie Dermot Seymours new collection of oil paintings has a wonderfully tactile quality and is inspired by photographs from newspapers and magazines, giving equal weight to human and animal faces Until Feb 27, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Chancery Lane D8, Mon to Fri 10.30am to 5.30pm, Sat 11am to 5pm, free. Tel: (01) 874 0064. www.kevinkavanaghgallery.ie The Dog Star by Simon Fisher Turner: From the soundtrack to Caravaggio by Derek Jarman. This is an eerie and beautiful piece of music with waves and birdsong weaving through strings and lutes, though a million miles away from mood music. Dont They Have Pay Phones Where Ever You Were Last Night? by Casiotone For The Painfully Alone: What an amazing title for a song and thats only the start every word and every note is perfect. This guy has got to be one of my top five favourite songwriters working today. The Someone Else by King Creosote: An incredible voice from the happy stable of Fife, Scotlands Fence Collective. Some people might recognise the forlorn strains of his accordion on the soundtrack to the movie Hallam Foe. How Can I Love You If You Wont Lie Down? by Silver Jews: I had the good fortune to tour with this incredible band a couple of years ago. David Berman has a way with words, hes a remarkable talent. Theres a line in this song that goes: Time is a game only children play well. I love it. El Diablo En El Ojo by Tindersticks: From the album Live At Bloomsbury Theatre, 1995. This always comes with me on long journeys and was played at home constantly while my son was still in his mothers womb. Ill blame Stuart Staples if he grows up to be a baritone singer. Adrians Crowleys album Season Of The Sparks is nominated for the Choice Music Prize, which takes place on Mar 3. www.choicemusicprize.com v1 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html