Review: My Inner Orc 14 Oct 2010
Allan O’Leary neatly skewers the fading glory of Lord of The Rings films in his newest play ‘My Inner Orc’.
Joseph Hoye
Let me warn you now. I laughed out loud while watching this play - a lot. Director Stella Duffy squeezes out fantastic performances from her small cast of London's Shaky Isles performers. The plot is simple. Meet Karl, a not so young bit-part actor from the Lord of the Rings films. He arrives in Croydon for his first Rings festival and gets caught up in a struggle between the festival’s promoters and the fans. And that is pretty much it.
Apart from the Elves, of course… and the suicide, a secret diary, love triangles, swords and… semaphore.
If you’re a New Zealander, then you probably know Karl. I’m fairly certain that I worked with him in Henderson once. Thirty years old and still catching the surf at Piha, and so laid back that people mistake him for a door mat. Aaron Buskin channels the engaging Karl to perfection.
Festival professional Martin Lovegate is the not-quite-a-star who heads the Lord of the Rings festival billing. A somewhat jaded character, ably played by Kane Bixley, Martin is more than he appears, yet remains a mystery to himself.
Leading the fans is Jessica, a call centre team leader and Martin’s stalker. No friends, no life outside of the Rings and a belief that she really is an Elf, Eleanor Lawrence’ performance breathes both grandeur and a sense of the pathetic into the role.
Then think of the worst kind of festival promoter. Someone who can only see money and will do anything to get it – a rip-off merchant. After unsuccessfully defending Daddy from an embezzlement charge, stone-cold Samantha Brookwhite takes up the festival’s reins. Granted, she has some real problems to overcome: hundreds of protesting wizards, a dead body and Moldovan mafia who want to call in a loan or chop Samantha’s fingers off. Emma Deakin delivers an uber-bitch to hiss at from the comfort of your theatre seat.
For me, the heart of My Inner Orc is Allie, played by Emma Newborn. Allie is the long-suffering right hand to Elven wannabe Jessica. A true fan, Allie does all the dirty work that fan groups necessitate and all she wants is a little recognition for her creative writing. Never has Elven erotica sounded so… painful, and if what they say about Halflings is true then poor Legolas must be wincing.
My Inner Orc cheerfully romps through a quirky story about strength in adversity, faith in the ones we love and doing the right thing. There are barbs to some of the lines, particularly when Deakin punctures the New Zealand psyche with a stinging tirade on the All Blacks, but for the most part, cast and audience just get to have fun.
This show deserves a packed house each night, so whether you like to support Kiwi-made, London theatre or just want a decent laugh, make sure you head to the Pleasance in Islington before 24 October.
My Inner Orc is aimed at a mature audience immature audience of older people who would rather enjoy life than contemplate their navel. Contains swearing and sexual themes.
My Inner Orc runs from now until 24 October.
Pleasance Theatre box office 020 7609 1800
North Rd, Islington, N7 9EF
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more