Writer and Director: Stewart Roche
After twenty five years apart, two former lovers, Kelly (Lesly Conroy) and Andrew (Jed Murray) rejoice and reminisce on Christmas Eve in Andrew’s living room. In the beginning you question how they got there but as the story unravels, one drink leads to another and we get enticed into the history of this relationship and their revived connection. When Andrew’s sister, Róisín (Helen McGrath) enters the scene and flips the narrative we learn the power of the mind and realize how unfinished business will forever remain unfinished.
A sentimental start to December, A Christmas Visit immensely suits the layout of Bewley’s Café Theatre, the intimate cabaret seating style almost reflecting the shared moments happening on stage. For a first preview, a buzzing and full room of friends and/or family were constantly engaged, ultimately bestowing a well deserved encore applause. The scenic design was very pleasing to the eye with a highly complementary and warm colour palette enhancing a comfortable environment.
For a one room play the actors, space and energy of the piece were very well managed so as to not make it appear as a talk show or overly conversational. Conroy and Murray express immense depth within their characters, beautifully handling the growth in chemistry between Kelly and Andrew, aided by the text from primarily exchanging mutual misunderstanding to finishing each other’s sentences. The audience holds onto hope for these characters to amend their broken bond as this tingling energy looms between them as they continuously avoid romantic connection, having little to no physical engagement at all…
Initially, Conroy presents an overtly nervous woman who’s trying to have a quiet Christmas away from the family. Conroy has this magnetic energy, frequently holding attention. Her well chosen mannerisms conveyed an uncertain woman, trying to piece together the reasoning of her past choices. We have the pleasure of watching Kelly blossom as she succumbs to the responsibilities and pressures of society on parents, brushing it off with gin and a boogie.
As delightful as it is to perceive organic human connection onstage, the dramatic technicalities or theatrical potential went a miss, relying on the text and characters to keep the pace of the performance moving. Artistically, A Christmas Visit was more so expressed as an episode of a beloved Irish tv soap opera or Christmas short film. There was this urgency to get really close to the emotional journey of these characters heightened by some issues with vocal projection causing moments to go awry.
A highly recommended production for the Christmas season.
Runs Until December 21st 2024.
The Review's Hub Score
Heart-warming, Nostalgia, Shocking
