Brendan Galileo For Europe continues at Assembly George Square Studios – Fave, Edinburgh until 26 August 2019.
Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
Fionn Foley is a one-man phenomenon! Switching between characters and voices at the flick of a switch, Foley has considerable talent and delivers this show with panache, fun and sheer joy.
Our hero, Brendan Galileo, has decided to make his mark on the world – or at least take his hometown Prospect to a more prosperous future. What better way to do this than standing in a by-election?
His refrain of ‘Ireland is at a crossroads’ does not improve with repetition. And although he promises to move Prospect forward in a better, more compassionate Ireland, the only surprise is that Brendan seems to really think he stands a chance.
Foley plays every other character mentioned in the story: from his grandmother who runs the local dance and music school (falling around her ears) to the property developers wanting to knock the school down and build ‘Prospect Plaza’. We also meet his best pal – a barely functioning alcoholic and failed Eurovision contestant.
When ill-luck forces the withdrawal of Josephine and Dermot the Parakeet as Ireland’s Eurovision entry, Brendan makes a last-ditch pitch for glory as Ireland’s last-minute replacement.
The trip to Europe and the contest is hilarious to watch and listen to. It’s just a shame that Foley doesn’t take more musical leaps in his range of characters. The grandmother’s piece is crying out for an Irish lament moment of her own; the re-creation of his chum’s failed Eurovision song is cut off a bit quickly and there could even be a love duet between Brendan and the assistant from the Irish Eurovision Offices.
I would love to see this compendium of sketches expanded just that wee bit further – Brendan Galileo could rise to the occasion, no doubt!
Fiona Orr
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