Described by writer and star Oisín McKenna as essentially “a really long poem, but less like Byron and more like Beyoncé… if Beyoncé wrote songs about the internet and gay sex”, GRINDR / a love story evokes every single ounce of it’s diametric, oxymoronic title. This heartbreaking and often tender tale explores the relatively-unchartered territory of our obsession with social media – tweeting as a political and the ultimate self-projection or Facebook-stalking someone within an inch of knowing their latest bowel movements – and the effects such monomania has on the heart. While touching on the age-old themes of sexuality and identity, and even a Catfish-esque criticism of online dating, GRINDR is, at it’s heart, a long-overdue and welcomed look at the condition of that rare genus of young man, the admirable if somewhat irreconcilable cocktail of hopeless romantic and virile, red-blooded male.
The play follows Johnny, a 21 year-old and Dublin city inhabitant, detailing the existence of a man, essentially searching for The One in some rather questionable and unwholesome places.
While McKenna’s presence and portrayal of our hero is formidable, never more so than his expertly-executed and interchangeably harrowing and hilarious spoken word renditions, his co-star Matthew Malone shines through in this, most chameleon of roles. At times playing an MC, a conscience or self-doubt and at others a hook-up or even Grindr itself, Malone’s performance is both effervescent and sobering, and strikes beautifully through to the core of this fable. More admirably again, the pair find a fine balance between the dreary and dainty, sparring humiliating accounts of one-night stands and bouts of crippling self-doubt against razor sharp quips and the freshest of pop culture commentary.
The greatest triumph of this production however, is McKenna’s observation on what is arguably the most self-aware generation ever. Not a member of the audience remained unmoved in some form or another during this performance. Whether by knowing chuckle, raucous roar or awkward squirm, it was evident that McKenna had his finger to the pulse of his audience. This play is blisteringly honest and squarely hits home. To paraphrase Johnny’s musing of Mary Byrne’s X-Factor audition: “I know it has manipulated my emotions, but I’m ok with that.”
If nothing else, McKenna’s latest endeavour is a beacon of hope for the young producers in Ireland today, having managed to raise 101% of it’s estimated cost raised by the generous public via the project’s Fund It page. What more viable proof could one require of this young man’s talent and previously-garnered and evidently well-deserved respect.
GRINDR / a love story shows in the Trinity College Players Theatre until Saturday 14th of September with showings at 6.30pm and a matinee on Saturday at 2pm (€13/11 conc.)
