Last Thursday night, in the cathedral car park, site of Galway's old jail, time stood still and then went mad as 21 actors and musicians played Puck with the audience and one another for an hour.
Hello Mr. Joe, by the French Compangnie Jo Bithume, provides a chance to see fine European ensemble playing at its best, with clowning, tumbling and acrobatics, Victorian nursery meeting Mad Max in a colourful romp.
Tightly directed (though the pace flagged in the last quarter), the show was a technical triumph, calling on the considerable skills of a highly-competent crew. The action shifted continuously from one point to another, with stages in constant motion through the crowd, and there was innovative use of shadow play.
An embarrassment of riches, this show revels in excess - comic book schoolboys, demon soldiers, fairies, dancers and prancers of all sorts.
Hello Mr Jo plays tonight and tomorrow at the cathedral car park at 10.30 p.m. To book, phone: 1890 575655.