‘The Determinator’ back for one night only in Townhall!
Almost six years after it was first aired as a public reading, ‘The Determinator’ by John McManus will make its stage debut in Cavan Town Hall this Friday, February 3.
In the six years since the one-man show was written, John says only a few minor adjustments were made.
“I went over the script with Charlie McGuinness who stars in it and Padraig McIntyre, the director. They changed a few things around, but it’s basically the same thing. I’m not worried about bringing it to the stage. I write plays hoping they will get produced and seen by a live audience. Charlie is a fantastic actor as well. I’m hopeful that it will go well. It’s on for one night, Cavan and then I’m hoping to bring it to various festivals during the summer.”
The story, which derives it’s name from the classic film ‘The Terminator’, tells of the importance of never giving up in life.
“The play tells the story of Herbie Hoctor, a down-on-his-luck character who broke up with his girlfriend in Galway, threw his phone in The Corrib and who ended up in Dowra. He rented a flat above a funeral home, which is the cheapest flat in Ireland because of its location. Then, he gets fired from his job washing dishes in a restaurant because he won’t sing the happy birthday song.
“When Herbie hears of his ex-girlfriend getting married in New York in St Patrick’s Cathedral to a US marine, it gives him a spurt to go over and win her back. Everything is stacked against him, he doesn’t even have a passport.”
Having spent time crafting characters, John says he feels like he has come to know them over time, even though some characters are based on his life.
“I had a job washing dishes and got fired for not singing the happy birthday song”, he laughs. “You do take things from your own life. All you need is a little spark. These people do come to life in my head. They are never based on real people except a bit of myself. Once you have a little thing to go on, then it becomes its own thing. They became like my friends, when I wrote and rewrote it. Strong characters are like real people even if they are made up.”
Being too closely associated with some of his characters isn’t something John is worried about, but it is a cause of concern for his family.
“I wrote a play a few years ago, called ‘Danger Money’ starring Seamus O’Rourke. My sister went to see it. The main character was a mad drinking, suicidal man that had no money but she said ‘people are going to think it’s you’. I had never thought about that. But that wouldn’t bother me.”
Having previously worked with his father who was a plasterer until he retired, John is now able to devote more of his time to writing plays.
“I wasn’t really a plasterer, I just used to do skimming and labouring. I work part time in gardening, mainly cutting hedges this time of the year. I do that a few days a week and write the rest of the time.
“I like being outdoors, doing physical work and meeting people. Also, when I’m doing that type of work it allows my mind to wander. The best ideas come to me when I’m not looking for them. I was out walking a few weeks ago, not thinking about anything and suddenly a whole play just came to me. That evening, when I came home, I started writing it. It was all just there.”
Gadgetry
The main character uses an old-fashioned Nokia 3310, which is something that John also uses in real life. He says this helps him focus on his work rather than getting distracted by flashy modern gadgets.
“I can end up watching Liverpool highlights on YouTube and then I’m still there three hours later. I find I’m better off reading a classic novel. It sparks better ideas. I love sports like football, snooker, tennis and hurling but I spent too much time watching them. Now I don’t watch telly or look on the internet. If I have a load of emails, I’ll look at them on a Saturday. When I’m working, then nothing can stop me. If you can’t get to me then forget about it.” The benefits putting down smartphones can be enormous, according to John, which is something he feels isn’t done enough these days.
“Boredom feeds imagination. The younger generation are never bored. I wonder if their imagination will be affected. It forces their mind to be creative. My mother used to take us to the library in Enniskillen, where I used to read a lot of Roald Dahl books. That’s where writing comes from for me.”