I love how it looks, how it smells and how it feels. I love the old, sometimes raggedy, carpet. I love the small bar with a huge range of tipples, even craft beer. I love how, when you've ordered your interval drink, you're given such specific instruction to find it, such as, "on the ledge to the left of the third roundy window beside the candle" I love the many pictures of past performances that adorn the walls. I love the auditorium with its blue and white color scheme. I love the staff, where else would I be advised to turn off my pager? How long has it been since anyone had a pager? Mainly I love the whole sense of occasion and history that goes hand in hand with a visit to The Gate.
Just some of the many pictures that adorn the walls of The Gate Theatre. I love how they are all at different angles, I tried to straighten one but it just returned to its crooked position!
I've blogged about The Gate before, nearly two years ago, but I've had many visits in the intervening time. I was back again recently to see The Price by Arthur Miller and amidst falling head over heels for the umpteenth time I concluded that it was high time it appeared here on The Dublin Diary again!
The Price sees Denis Conway as Victor prepare to sell the remainder of his father's possessions before his childhood home is pulled to the ground. In the process he meets his estranged brother Walter, played superbly by Barry McGovern. Lewis J. Stadlen steals the shows as antiques dealer Gregory Solomon who offers more advice than financial proposals! You soon come to realize though that something much more than the price of furniture is at stake, both Frank and Walter are looking for something which the other can't give. Stuck in the middle is Franks wife Esther, played by Fiona Bell, she manages to play the hard-done-by wife to such an extent that I almost began to feel claustrophobic. Remarkably throughout the play Stadlen lifts the darker tones with expertly timed touches of light and laughter to create a perfect balance and a very memorable performance.
The set design for The Price is amazing. Francis O'Connor has done such a great job at recreating a crumbling and overflowing old attic, actually, by the time the play was over I had that itchy feeling in my nose I get when I'm in old dusty places!
I'd normally advise a trip to The Gate no matter what was showing but The Price is definitely worth checking out. It runs until Saturday the 16th of August and tickets can be booked online or by phone. Go on, do it, I promise you won't be disappointed!
