Magical Wank

Had to write a review for a job I applied for so I thought I might as well pop it on here ...

Neil Watkins – The Year of Magical Wanking
Project Arts Centre, Dublin (Dublin Fringe 2011)

The sold-out success of this year’s Dublin Fringe Festival, Neil Watkins’ The Year of Magical Wanking is a brave and brutally honest window into the private world of its author.

Contained within the stark set of a jagged white rectangle marked in tape on the floor, the semi-autobiographical monologue presents a series of snapshot scenes concerning issues of personal doubt, addiction, torment, shame and self-destructive behaviour. While not without its light-hearted moments, the piece is not afraid to confront the ugliness of life and give voice to the seldom-discussed nagging doubts and internal turmoil that plague many a lonely evening.

The play is written in loose rhyme and the discipline of the verse is a stark contrast to the unstructured lifestyle it narrates, as Neil acts out unsatisfactory encounters with a variety of characters while getting wasted at parties or attending therapy sessions. One of the chief examples of his acting talent comes during a heated confrontation with his drag alter-ego, Heidi Konnt, a part-Swiss / part-Nazi creation who won him the title of Alternative Miss Ireland in 2005. He has now retired the character and the two meet to exchange a ferocious battle of words, with Neil flawlessly switching between identities as they spar mercilessly, exchanging a quick-fire montage of insults, frustrations and rebukes.

Through the journey of exploration and discovery, the play ends on a note of self-acceptance and quiet optimism, with the viewer feeling cleansed, confronted and comforted. This is a truthful and revealing performance that deserves the attention of a wider audience.