Santa Monica Playhouse presents

The Bad Arm - Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer

by Maire Clerkin
directed by Dan O'Connor

 

If you thought Irish Dancers were all curly-haired cutie-pies with perfect posture – meet a scowling girl from London in this outrageous antidote to ‘Riverdance’.

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with this uproarious one-woman comedy that asks what it means to be Irish, what it means if you don’t want to be, and what if you’re labeled an Irish Wannabe? London Irish writer-performer Máire Clerkin, who cut her teeth in the 80’s alternative comedy scene with an act called The Hairy Marys, relives her past with tales of the disappointing daughter of an Irish dancing-school mistress, ugly duckling syndrome, cultural confusion and a life dedicated to work avoidance.

‘…tale of identity crises and coming of age as an English-born Irish girl… at times poignant and at times hysterically funny’ Brooke Alberts, Folkworks

‘…glorious riffs of traditional Irish dance…animated impersonations and snapshot transitions in a world that Clerkin captures so meticulously’ Steven Leigh Morris, LA Weekly (Theater Pick)

The focal point of Clerkin's coming of age saga is her right elbow that drifts outward while performing Irish folk dances, a “bad arm” that her mother says is responsible for her placing poorly in so many competitions. The requisite of keeping both arms slammed into one's body emerges as a metaphoric constriction in a world that Clerkin captures so meticulously. Stephen Leigh Morris, LA Weekly

Playwright/Performer Máire Clerkin moved to California in 2003 from London. She is the founder of The Hairy Marys and Clerkinworks Irish Dance Theatre, both of which have toured the UK & Ireland extensively. Credits include Dancing on Dangerous Ground at Radio City Music Hall; Fennels, Flannels, Funnels at John Hegley; Centenary Knees Up at South Bank Centre; Unconnected Soundings at The Royal Opera House; Music Makers on BBC TV; and Revolver on BBC World Service. Clerkin has created five award-winning choreodramas for Irish Dance Academies since 2006. She directed Cadence Dance Theatre in Arizona (2004-05) and A Gaelic Gathering for the World City series at Disney Concert Hall in ‘07. In 2009, she was awarded a Durfee Foundation grant for an eight performance series of The Bad Arm at the Bang Theatre in Hollywood where it played to rave reviews and enthusiastic audiences. Now updated and staged for Santa Monica Playhouse, The Bad Arm – Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer arrives on the Westside in all its glory. Máire Clerkin is a teaching artist with the LA Music Center and Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Director Dan O’Connor is co-founder of Impro Theatre, (Top 10 Best Theatre of 2009, LA Weekly), co-director for Jane Austen UnScripted, Shakespeare UnScripted and Sondheim UnScripted. Theatre credits include Improbable Theatre’s Lifegame (Off-Broadway), A Christmas Carol, Horatio, and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at A Noise Within (Dramalogue Award for Best Actor), Ferdinand in The Tempest at Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and Joey in The Homecoming at The New Conservatory in San Francisco. TV credits include Seinfeld, Campus Ladies, Malcolm in the Middle, and The Newz. O’Conner co-created the NBC/ION television improv comedy show World Cup Comedy. His TV directing credits include Sons and Daughters and Campus Ladies.

Produced by Heather Woodbury’s Fomenting Arts Unlimited Incorporated

at Santa Monica Playhouse
1211 4th Street 
Santa Monica , CA 90401

Opening 03/17/2010	Closing 03/17/2010

Showtimes

8:00 pm

RESERVATIONS

310-394-9779 x1

Click here to reserve tickets online

Ticket Prices:

$17.00

 

 

An outrageous antidote to Riverdance

 

Parking & Directions: The Playhouse is located in the heart of the Santa Monica Bayside District on 4th Street, four blocks north of the 10 Freeway, between Arizona Ave. & Wilshire Blvd. Convenient parking is located directly across the street in Public Parking Structure #1 By public transportation: take the Santa Monica Blue Bus or the LA Metro Rapid #720 and exit at 4th and Wilshire

Loading map...