Richard Bodin
Matt LuceyPeople of Limerick — if you’ve wandered past the corner of Henry Street and Sarsfield Street lately, you might have spotted a curious new addition: Dessie’s Disc, a retro-style record shop that looks like it’s been there forever. But don’t be fooled — it is a make-up shop set here to promote Wreckquiem, the brand-new play by Mike Finn that will take over the stage at the Lime Tree Theatre from June 25th to July 5th.
While rehearsals were in full swing last week, the cast stepped into a real record shop — Limerick’s own Steamboat Records — for a promotional photo shoot. We were lucky enough to be there too, and to grab a few minutes with the star of the show: the one and only Pat Shortt.
In this interview, Pat talks about playing the grumpy-but-wise Dessie, why music is stitched into the fabric of his life, and how his first album purchase sparked brotherly torment. From ska to saxophone solos, comedy to tragedy, this is a glimpse into the man behind the counter.
Behind the Counter: Pat Shortt Meets Dessie
What did you think when Mike Finn came to pitch the idea of ‘Pat Shortt as grumpy record shop owner’? How much of you do you see in the character?
Well, I don’t see a lot of me in the character. That’s the thing about being an actor — you play the character, you know what I mean? You play the role. But I know the character he’s describing and talking about: the grumpy guy in the shop who’s just kind of given up on life in lots of ways, and who doesn’t tolerate stupidness and silliness and all such things.
How is the spirit in the rehearsal room?
It’s really good. Occasionally the question arises: “Is it too late to do Big Maggie?” (laughs). 1
Anyway, it’s great — everyone’s excited. The rehearsals are going really well, we’re on time, and Andrew’s a great director. He really gives us all confidence and steers the ship. He knows what he’s doing and he gives us great insight into the dialogue, which is what you need from a director. You don’t always get it, but it’s good to get it.
The Emotional Power of Music
Do you agree with your character’s own words: “Without music we’re nothing” or “There is a soundtrack to everything in life”?
I totally agree with it. I’m a musician first and foremost, as much as an actor. I started off life as a musician. My dad was a musician, my mom was a musician — many of my family members were musicians. I come from a musical family. I love music and I’m passionate about it. Music is such a wonderful thing.
We all have our memories — music and scent. You smell something: if you smell cut grass, it brings you back to when you were a kid, maybe on a football pitch or whatever. There are different smells — dinner in the house — and it brings you back. Music has the same effect. If you hear a tune, it can bring you right back to that moment in your childhood when you were jumping up and down on the sofa at home listening to the Specials or whatever it was, you know?
In Dessie’s way, what would you file under “Overrated Bollocks,” “Utter Shite,” or even “Relaxin’ Shite”?
I don’t know — I have a very eclectic mix of music from my days as a kid. I played in the brass band in Thurles — I love brass band music arrangements. Then I love jazz — I’m a saxophonist — I love Paul Desmond, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. He would be my go-to saxophone player. Some people love Brecker and the bop, but I love the more West Coast style of jazz, which is more laid back.
Then I grew up with the Specials and ska in that era. I love that kind of music. I was lucky enough to tour with Desmond Dekker many years ago, and with Toots and the Maytals as well…
So I don’t know what is “Overrated Bollocks”… I know Dessie has ABBA in there as “overrated bollocks”! I like all genres of music, and I think everyone to their own, you know?
Hitting the Stage — and the Studio
Music has been part of your life for a good while. You play multiple instruments, and we all know your music hits! And you were on stage with the 2 Johnnies last weekend… Are you going to explore a new career in music now?
Yes, I was on stage with the 2 Johnnys — 20-odd thousand people! (laughs). I’m enjoying it. I did a TV show called Songs of Ireland with Mike Hanrahan from Stockton’s Wing a year ago. It aired and it was a beautiful show — such a lovely thing to do. I think I’ll do more.
After that, me and Mike toured with a small show around Ireland. It was beautiful, because it was the first time for me to tour as a musician, and not as a comedian or an actor. That was a really amazing moment for me. I loved that tour.
Absolutely — I will do more of it.
You’ve gone for slightly more dramatic or serious roles recently. Is it something you aspire to, or does it depend on the projects?
Well, I love mixing things up. I love doing comedy, and I’ve been very lucky — I did a film many, many years ago called Garage. It opened me up to the more serious roles in film and theatre. Sometimes, as a comedian, you get stereotyped, but I’ve been lucky not to.
That’s why it’s a joy for me to do this play — to really go for those moments of pure drama, which there are in this. Sometimes, when doing comedy, you don’t get a chance to do that. Yet I love doing comedy — that’s my bread and butter, as they say.
Soundtrack of a Life: Pat Shortt’s Musical Firsts
As we had a few minutes left with Pat, we decided to ask him the same question we asked Mike Finn or the rest of the cast before. Since, according to Pat Shortt’s own character in the play, there a soundtrack to everything in life, we asked him about his personnal life soundtrack…
What was the first song you remember from the radio?
Oh, good God. The first song I remember ever hearing was: “Oh Lord, It’s Hard to Be Humble.” It was a hit in every way… just a huge hit… for months! It was number one when I was a kid. And the only reason I remember it is because it was never off the radio! I think it was back in the early ’80s or late ’70s. It’s not that I liked it — I just remember it. Who couldn’t? It was an absolute earworm.
What was the first album you got?
I was a slave to advertising when I was a kid. When you got to a certain age, you got the money to buy an album (laughs). It was my birthday and I got the money. My birthday’s in December, so it’s Christmas time, and The Carpenters had a Greatest Hits album out. So I bought that. It’s a great album, actually — really well produced.
It’s incredible. She had such an amazing voice — to this day, no one matches her.
But it wasn’t cool when the Specials were on (laughs). When I came home with the Carpenters, I got the shit kicked out of me by all my brothers (laughs). They would have seen it as a poncy album! (Still laughing)
What was the first concert you went to?
Oooh… (thinks). Well, the first really big gig I remember going to was U2 in Phoenix Park. Big Country was on the bill as well, and Annie Lennox. It was an amazing show. I think it was in the early ’80s (Ed: it was in 1983).
Wreckquiem will premiere at the Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick on June 25th and will run ten performances until July 5th. The play written by Mike Finn, will be directed by Andrew Flynn, and the cast will feature Pat Shortt, Patrick Ryan, Marc O’Regan, Joan Sheehy and Sade Malone.
Make sure you get your tickets now! They are going fast.
- Ed.: in the Theatre world, it is a common joke… It is implied that if anything goes wrong in the rehearsals, the cast can always fall back on plyaing “Big Maggie” the famous play by John B. Keane — which they all know already ↩︎
