“D’ya wanna go hand out CVs or something?”
“Nah lets just watch TV”
Whether it’s Jeremy Kyle or Dr. Phil, lets face it, we’ve all been there. Quintessentially Irish and hilariously funny, Whelp, is a satirical tale about the trials and tribulations we all face during that fatal time in which we desperately try, but often awkwardly fail to make the leap from dependency to adulthood. The play cleverly explores this transitional time, pitting surrealism against cold reality in such a way that is simultaneously hilarious and yet slightly unsettling to those of us who can relate and judging by the deluge of laughter which followed after each self deprecating gag, the subject matter hit close to home for more than a few of us in the audience.
The play centres around two best friends who after failing to make ends meet living on their own, are forced to move back home with their parents. We first meet Red (Mary Conroy) and Yellow (Lola White) as the stars of a 1950s style infomercial, all creepy, glaring smiles and overwrought arm swishes as they regale us with the benefits of living independently in your own home. But as reality sets in for the jobless pair and the bills keep coming, the girls have no choice but to move back home and in with their parents and the real story begins.
Despite the seemingly depressing theme, the effervescent charm of the play’s two stars paired with some hilarious audience interaction as well as clever use of sound effects, projections and kitsch cardboard cut-outs designed by Niamh Cleary all work together to make this performance a deceptively funny and entertaining watch. That and the excellent soundtrack which reeks of 90s crop tops and scrunchies. Although at certain times the audience participation failed to gain momentum and certain scenes fell a bit flat, the consistent provision of guffaw-worthy moments over the hour totally overrides the hiccups. If your stuck in a rut and bumming off your rents, ask them to spare a few euro so you can go see Whelp. It’s unlikely that it’ll be of any help to your rut situation in anyway whatsoever but it’s guaranteed to make you laugh.
Whelp is running in Smock Alley Theatre until Friday 13th September. Tickets are €11-13.
Words: Roisin McVeigh
