DublinLand review: Scathing satire of Irish political nonsense and big-tech bogusness

DublinLand

Lir Academy

★★★☆☆

It’s a familiar sight: the Government of Ireland logo is plastered on to a wall, a solitary podium stands in front of it and ... Dirty Old Town plays on the speakers. Taoiseach Simon Costello (Cian Jordan) has called an emergency press conference. Following a corporate-tax scandal that bankrupted the country, Costello has cobbled together a plan to take us out of the economic “bad vibes”. (“Depression” would make light of the mental-health crisis, he explains.)

“DublinLand!” Costello proclaims through an explosion of confetti. In a bid to monetise the craic and save Ireland from economic ruin, the Taoiseach announces he has sold Dublin to a flamboyant Silicon Valley tech bro, Zachary Blomkamp (Matthew Tallon). A bizarre plan for the city is unveiled: Dub-Dollars enter circulation. There’s a famine coaster. Bumper cars clog up the M50. The Cliffs of Moher have been moved to Drumcondra. And every bar in the city is upgraded to an Irish pub of yore, complete with old candlesticks, cheese-nacho-flavoured Ireland’s Edge stout and a mandatory Wowburger in the corner. Costello, with his tail between his legs, knocks heads with his new tech overlord.

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The script is sharp and witty and provides a scathing satire of what some might see as political nonsense among the country’s neoliberal ruling parties, and big tech bogusness from an egotistical tycoon obsessed with diddly-eye faux Oirishness. The audience lap up the many one-liners from the comedic duo, then show their appreciation with a standing ovation. DublinLand speaks to a very real feeling of selling our city to the highest bidder, only this time it’s rather funny.

Continues at the Lir Academy, as part of Dublin Fringe Festival, until Saturday, September 16th