Reviews: Ross Noble, at the Laughter Lounge, Dublin and Michael d'Arcy (violin) Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
Michael d'Arcy (violin) Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
Partita No 3 in EBach
Sonata in D, Op 115Prokofiev
Pagininiana Milstein
Michael d'Arcy (violin) played the works on his programme at the Hugh Lane Gallery last Sunday with an unassuming virtuosity that allowed the music its free melodic flowThe Bach partita successfully conveyed the illusion that more than one instrument was taking part, whether in the almost contrapuntal prelude, the melancholy loure or the rippling gigue, but the dominant impression was of Bach as a maker of tunes.
Prokofiev's sonata is a bit of a curiosity, as it was written, we were told, for an ensemble of 20 or so violins. It is seldom heard in its original form, but it could hardly sound better than it did played on one violin, and d'Arcy brought an affectionate warmth to his reading.
The Pagininiana by the violinist Nathan Milstein is a set of variations on Paganini's famous 24th Caprice and is equally challenging. To hear it being played is like watching a tight-rope walker and wondering whether he or she will reach the end without mishap. On this occasion all went smoothly, including elegant slides and vertiginous pirouettes. The audience was charmed. - Douglas Sealy
Ross Noble, Laughter Lounge, Dublin
Taking the Eddie Izzard route of concentrating on stand-up rather than throwing away his talent on inane television shows, the young Newcastle comic Ross Noble is on the brink.
One of the freshest and most original voices to emerge over the past few years, Noble is a delight. Still only in his early 20s, he has already piled up a Perrier nomination and a West End run, yet there's still a sense that his potential remains unfulfilled.
Noble's approach is singular: he has scripted material but frequently ditches it as he goes walkabout with whatever idea enters his head. Like Paul Klee "taking a line for a walk", Noble liberates himself to conjure up something of resonant worth.
Riffing away like a jazz musician, he ends up far from where he started, but all the time keeping proceedings on a coherent standing.
A typical Noble routine begins with a banal observation; a member of the audience (particularly their physical appearance) then prompts him into a flight of fancy that twists and turns - complete with refulgent improvised material - before we are transported back to something resembling normality.
As with Izzard, you have to go with Noble and trust him as you travel to this twilight zone where kangaroos, for example, take on a whole new meaning.
This is a Bitches Brew of an evening, a word salad served up with relish and refracted through a Lewis Carroll funfair mirror.
Noble is one of the best comics working on the circuit - there aren't many names as big as him who would undertake a comprehensive Irish tour of centres big and small, so do yourself a favour and catch some of the remaining dates. - Brian Boyd
Ross Noble plays An Grianán, Letterkenny, tonight (074-20777); Market Place Theatre, Armagh, tomorrow (sold out); and the GPO, Galway, on Sunday (1800-266339)
