The Tower Theatre performing at Theatro Technis, Camden Town

TOWER TACKLE MCPHERSON’S PLAY Review by John Dunne for The Irish World Conor McPherson is arguably one of Ireland's greatest playwrights with a string of hits to his name, including the hugely successful The Weir at London’s Royal Court.
	McPherson is also the master of the monologue, and though Shining City has four characters, the thrust of the play is carried by the excellent Peta Barker as the recently bereaved John, who visits a newly qualified therapist. In a nutshell, John is seeing the ghost of his dead wife and is ridden with all manner of guilty secrets.
As you might expect from McPherson, nothing is quite as it seems. Colin Guthrie's therapist Ian is equally well-stacked in the guilt department, being an ex-priest with a child-toting girlfriend in tow! Additional characters also add to the heady mix, including a surprise appearance from a rent boy picked up for a bit of rough trade. With tight writing and an even tighter plot, the play carries the audience along with a mixture of humour and compassion. Everything about this show is top-drawer quality, and the acting from Barker and Guthrie is second to none.
	If there is a 'but' in this play, it unforttunately focuses on the plotting, with a couple of scenes which could be cut entirely. Doing so would allow the play to focus fully on the John/Ian therapy sessions. Quibbling aside, the play is deftly directed by Chloe Faine.
Photography by Alexander Knapp