Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015 REVIEW – The Bad Arm Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer ***
by Michael Casey
Boy,can Maire Clerkin dance. Yes, we know she is now a choreographer in Hollywood but when she break loose throughout this tale of Irish dancing in Crouch End, North London, it is a wonder to behold.
Maire paints a familiar picture of growing up in an Irish family in North London, with the dancing as the hobby of her family.
There is skilful use of images to punctuate the story but Maire fills the floor with her movement and her words. We particularly like the dancing sequence with an over-amorous Northern Irishman. Oh, and George Macrae!
There is some great break out dancing towards the end, when Maire’s footwork is dazzling.
A tender love letter to a dance form that was a vital part of immigrant life for many Irish, growing up in London.
Michael Casey is the Editor of YourThurrock and this review is a collaboration between The Edinburgh Reporter and YourThurrock, two of the many hyperlocal news websites in the UK.