On the streets of 1970s Belfast, Northern Ireland, a DJ named Terry Hooley runs into a tough local duo. They are young people who have found purpose in the shootings and explosions of the sectarian conflict that pits Protestants and Catholics against each other.
That conflict defines everything around Terry, but the meaning of his life comes from music. Rock and reggae that would later become his soundtrack.
“Take care of your feet,” he tells tough people. “Let them dance like they used to.”
Is it a bad thing to call punk rock musicals glamorous? I hope that doesn’t happen.good vibration– a biomusical about the real Terry Hooley who became an idealistic and staunch champion of Belfast’s nascent punk scene – definitely does.Directed by De Kennedy Lyric Theatre, Belfast, portrays music as a defiantly delightful haven from ugliness and danger. Rather than glorify mayhem, it presents Northern Irish punk as a youthful vitality against it.
Adapted by Colin Carberry and Glenn Patterson from the 2012 film of the same name, “Good Vibrations” (not to be confused with the Broadway jukebox musical of the same name set to a Beach Boys song) is the film’s Conveying a sense of justified joy, freedom to the stage of Manhattan’s Irish Arts Center.
Glenn Wallace plays Terry, a die-hard dreamer with zero business sense who opens a record store, Good Vibrations, in Belfast city centre. Soon he was releasing records for local punk bands and promoting them to the world. His marriage to the beautiful Ruth Kerr (Jane Weisner) suffers because of it. His passion is stolen by shops and punks.
But Terry’s band Rudy, The Outkast, and the Undertones don’t fan the rebellion. They’re more sunny than that, and so is this show. Like Terry’s life, it’s a bit chaotic and not always as clear as it should be. Perhaps its creators are held back by the ethical imperative of telling stories inspired by real people. Still, this is the musical tonic.
Grace Smart’s set makes excellent use of instrument cases, Gillian Lennox’s period costume is impeccable, and her use of music as Underscore is hauntingly gorgeous. (Music director Katie Richardson.) Among the doubled-down cast, Marty Maguire stands out as Terry’s socialist father and several other characters in a protean way.
As much as “Good Vibrations” is about Terry, its ultimate hero may be music itself. He firmly believes in its power of salvation.
“This is missionary work,” Terry said during his time as a DJ.
that’s right. Preaching.
good vibration
Until July 16th at the Irish Art Center in Manhattan. irisartscenter.org. Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes.
