Lies Where It Falls by Ruairi Conaghan. The Finborough theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London until 21 December 2024,

4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“A well told tale.”

Ruari Connaghan was asked to play Patrick Magee, the mastermind behind the IRA bomb in  the Grand Hotel, Brighton in 1984 when Margaret Thatcher was lucky to escape with her life – the play was staged in Brighton. An Ulsterman, he has a substantial and distinguished career behind him, including one of those “we know your face” roles in Downton Abbey. He tells in this one man play he has written based on what happened to him because of taking that role in The Bombing of the Grand Hotel. It caused him to suffer a physical and mental collapse – he tells why and how he recovered in a testimony both very moving and frequently funny. Laughter matters in his life. His multi-faceted performance is a delight to watch and his control over his audience is complete. The reason for his reaction was that Connaghan's uncle, Judge Rory Connaghan, was shot by the IRA on his doorstep in 1974 while his eight year old daughter was at his side holding his hand, a killing that affected him then and in time in unexpected ways. The little girl was his favourite cousin and what happened to her led to his breakdown. The monologue is always something of an obstacle course for actors –  there are obstacles to be overcome if the audience is to be held which Connaghan overcomes with great skill because he makes clear that while there were killings life did go on, there were pleasures in family life and laughter as well. Violence casts long shadows and while the Ulster of today is not the Ulster of the 1980s the past is not forgotten so he has a story worth telling today and one which needs to be told time and again.

Cast

Ruairi Conaghan.

Creatives

Set Designer – Juliette Demoulin.

Lighting Designer- Chris Corner.

Sound Designer – Niall Doran.

Movement Director – Dylan Quinn.