The Arts Review​

Ciaran Owens and Miscah Barton in Double Indemnity. Image, Manuel Harlan *** When it first hit the screens in 1944 James M. Cain’s classic thriller Double Indemnity appeared to break with cinema noir rules. But look closely and it just repositioned things. The genre’s hard edged, world weary, anti-hero detectives are now insurance investigators. Everything else remains intact. A sultry femme fatale, a self assured secretary, a good girl daughter, a self-made millionaire, a b

Liam Hourican and Lesley Conroy in Macbeth. Image, Ewa Figaszewska ** It's a challenge undertaking William Shakspeare's Macbeth . Foolhardy, perhaps, to do so whilst in throwing distance of Druid Theatre’s universally acclaimed production. Volta Theatre Company’s production a labour of love. Director Nora McGettigan proving sincerity an empty virtue, with the road to hell lined with good intentions. Not that Macbeth is hell. That being part of the problem. It's not much of a

Jennifer Davis in Irish National Opera's Rusalka. Photo, Ruth Medjber **** Bad mouthing ballet and opera? Spare me. Timothée Chalamet’s asinine remarks suggesting the ping-pong boy should never be allowed speak without adult supervision. Certain columnists bafflingly endorsing Chalamet’s anti-opera foolishness. Rebuttals justified and immediate. Nathan Lane's no holds takedown on The View , and Fergus Shiel's more decorous response in the Irish Times speaking for millions. A