There can never be any doubt that Joseph O'Connor has a serious intent informing his comedic plays. This time, maybe, the seriousness has overcome the comedy as a mother and her son recite a series of misty memories from the 70s, for the most part rather unpleasant, in which a marriage breaks up, there is the discovery of Agnes Bridget Bernadette Graham in a black coat, frequent references to such popular icons of the decade as Starsky and Hutch, crazy golf, 7-Up and more.

Played in a series of monologues by two hard-working actors - Geraldine Plunkett and Enda Oates - and directed by Jim Culleton on an abstract set of platforms by Blaithin Sheerin, the author appears to keep moving the goalposts of his narrative, as if to keep his audience uncertain of the ultimate target. But this gives rise to a dramatic incoherence since each separate piece of monologue seems to be driving in a different direction and often with a seemingly different purpose from the monologues before and after it. Sometimes even the voice and the vision driving each monologue is not immediately clear, and there is an insufficient theatrical return for the concentration demanded of the audience.

There are some easy laughs of recognition (at least for those in the audience who remember the "culture" of the 70s), but there is insufficient emotional or intellectual coherence to allow a theatrical linkage with the characters in the piece. Perhaps there is more detailed coherence in the short stories on which it is said to be based, in which case it would be better read than watched. On stage it comes across as thin theatrical value for a piece of elaborate contrivance which demands much investment of concentration and too few laughs or easily shared insights.