No Earthly Estate
The Fumbally
*****
By the time Kevin Barry takes to the stage, the audience has been fed and watered and treated to an eclectic array of performances, including a reading by David Turpin and a short set from the excellent Come on Live Long. The Fumbally is filled to capacity, and this little corner of Dublin is in fine fettle and looking only gorgeous.
You could hear a pin drop as Barry launches into a reading of Ox Mountain Death Song and he commands this storytime hush over the audience throughout his disturbing and beautifully rendered tale of Canavan and Sgt Tom Brown. And then it's over and time for Tieranniesaur to get everyone up dancing, before David O'Doherty takes to the stage with his giant orange bag and his short little legs and charm-offensive wit.
The brainchild of Siobhán Kane, Young Hearts Run Free has for the past six years been spreading the love with heart-shaped balloons and well thought out line-ups such as these, with all proceeds (about 2,500 from this Fringe gig) going to the Simon Community.