Happening

Gresham Hotel * * *

IT WASN’T the Amsterdam Hilton, and there were no newly wed Beatles in sight, but something tells me Waterdonkey’s Absolut Fringe debut, a bed-in for Ireland in a suite at the Gresham, was probably a whole lot more fun.

Sure, it had some wrinkles to iron out. The actors had a little trouble staying in character and maintaining their accents at times, but on All-Ireland Sunday it can be hard to hide allegiances, especially when an audience member is shouting, “Up the Kingdom!”

Rather than be inclusive and participatory, "immersive" theatre sometimes has the opposite effect, making the audience feel like voyeurs circling an impenetrable clique. Not so with Happening. We were welcomed with tea and oranges, we were included in games and singsongs, we danced in the bath and peaced out. Hell, we were even offered a foursome.

Okay, they didn’t change the world, but then again neither did John and Yoko in 1969.

Run concluded