In 1986, Nuala won the annual Rose of Tralee beauty pageant and now she’s back as the first female host. Come witness her on live TV in 5, 4, 3, 2…
This gaudy triumph slips a serious message in with the talent-show high-kicks and Eurovision spangles
Every round of this beauty pageant is based on the history of Irish women, and every joke lands right where it should. Contestants complete an obstacle course based on ‘Pirate Queen’ Grace O’Malley and St Brigid, patron saint of poets and nuns. Texan Ciara (37.5% Irish on her father’s side) loses a point in round one for incorrectly answering ‘Sinead O’Connor’ as the first female president of Ireland.
The pitch-perfect silliness of the 'Lovely Girls' style competition was an ideal contrast to the bite of history behind the songs. It was like downing a tequila slammer - one moment you’re served a sickening fact about the Magdalene Laundries, the next you’re whisked swiftly on by the zingy lemon of the hilarious dancing.
The show notes credit Brighton Fringe Award winner Sarah Blanc for the costumes, which almost impresses me more than the fact she wrote, choreographed and directed the show. I don’t know whether she designed or sourced those psychedelically bright bad-taste dresses, but their gaudy mix of glitter and velour will stay with me forever.
Runner up, or ‘First Loser’ to Nuala’s crown is Sinead, her wry underdog assistant who still wants the spotlight and does the BSL interpretation for the show. Co-produced by Candoco Dance Company, a contemporary company of disabled and non-disabled dancers, the choreography was fun and frantic. The Spiegeltent’s Bosco theatre probably still reverberates from the rap, tap and Riverdance action. Right in the heart of the Fringe’s quirkiest enclave, its wooden stage and ringside seating worked well for the dancing and jovial audience participation.
A couple of threads dangled and might resolve themselves in later versions of the show; each of the contestants had a long-lost family backstory but they weren’t all resolved. Maybe a sequel to History of Ireland will uncover how Aoife ended up in that village in Bavaria? I’ll be first at the door for whatever this company’s next show is. Until then, I have some history to re-learn.
