The Irish Times

Seamus Murphy, RHA, was a dedicated and sophisticated artist. He made his name as a sculptor, and his autobiography, Stone Mad , is a vivid and affectionate account of life as a chiseller. Now, Johnny Hanrahan has adapted the book for a new theatrical production, which opens at the Everyman Palace on April 11th. Although Hanrahan doesn't say so, his emphasis is a kind of counter-attack on the surge of nostalgia and reminiscence awakened in the city by news of several events scheduled between now and September, to commemorate Murphy's life and work. This celebration of the centenary of his birth could easily fall into an anecdotal resonance, for Murphy could seem to shed the artist for the sake of a good story well told; he had myriads of stories about them, rich with humour, humanity and folkloric indignation. Most memorably, he altered the way one looked at things; his was an absorbent imagination and to meet him in the city streets was to feel enlightened, warmed by what was sometimes an acerbic generosity of vision and appreciation.