Writer: Paula Greevy-Lee
Director: Gerard Lee
A Rare Journey is a very intriguing piece of theatre, giving a new perspective on the very well known character of James Joyce, this time told through the words of his wife Nora Joyce.
With the intimate setting of Smock Alley, this one woman play really shines bright. It is a particularly impressive feat for our solo actor, Paula Greevy-Lee, as it is a straight through piece, however she never hesitates for a moment, and manages to really capture the audience through charm and wit.
It is a very relaxed and calm play, which is quite a contrast to the very fast paced and energetic setting of contemporary plays that have begun to rise in popularity in recent years. If you are more inclined towards the hustle and bustle of modernity, this play may not be what you usually
expect to see on stage, as it takes on more features of more classical theatre. The music throughout is very thoughtfully chosen and creates an immersive ambience within the theatre. It also features live singing from our lead, who has a beautiful voice. This really adds to the dimensions of our character, as we see her sing traditional Irish songs as well as classical German, reflective of the actual character’s background.
It is a simplistic play, but has well chosen lighting design to transform different scenes. There are very few props used but when utilised have a great effect in story building. I particularly enjoyed the costume design as it is clearly well researched and historically accurate, as well as giving life to the character. There is a stunning choice of designing the alcove in the Boys theatre, which is often ignored, with suspended hats, which gives a very haunting effect throughout.
While the story is enticing, it could perhaps use some editing to make it more cohesive, as those not well versed in the life of Joyce may get lost with some lineality and structure, but otherwise a very emotional and touching piece.
