St Nicholas by Conor McPherson

Staging an 80-minute one-man-show with no scenery, sound effects, or props seems like a bit of a risk. The script had better be bloody good. And the actor performing it had better be pretty talented. Fortunately, St Nicholas succeeds on both counts, and, despite the lack of any real visual stimulation, the audience is kept intrigued from beginning to end.

Conor McPherson’s script tells the story of a cynical and disagreeable theatre critic whose mid-life crisis takes a sudden turn for the supernatural. Leaving Ireland and his job after falling in love with an actress, our protagonist becomes involved with a coven of vampires living in South London.

What follows is an allegory about how cold-hearted theatre critics can literally suck the talent out of actors, and while this may sound an idea too fanciful to work, McPherson manages to pull it off. His use of language is creative and he seamlessly switches from a narrative which is firmly rooted in reality to a disturbing metaphorical tale of the paranormal.

Peter Dineen, who is best known as a guest star in a number of episodes of Father Ted, tells the story of the critic with great success. With his face lit up in an alarmingly sinister manner, Dineen single-handedly fills the bare stage and keeps his mammoth monologue varied.

However, while both McPherson’s excellent script and Dineen’s skilful performance mean that the play succeeds in totally engaging the audience, the metaphorical premise of the play could have been developed a little more fully. That aside, St Nicholas is thoroughly enjoyable, and no-one could fail to be impressed by the talent of its star. Honestly: this reviewer isn't just trying to avoid being branded a parasitic vampire.