Writer: Dee Roycroft
Director: Claire O’Reilly
Amelia is set in a generally recognisable world, rural Ireland in the not-too-distant future after some unspecified ecological disaster – or, after a series of disasters, as the damage has been such that finding live birds is a rarity. Jan (Claire J Loy) bursts on stage, cradling a dying magpie; her brother, Davy (John Cronin) helps her attend to it, but there is a brutal, inevitable feeling to the bird’s death. They are then joined by Davy’s non-binary child, Enda (Bláithín Mac Gabhann), who is approaching the age of majority, is itching to see the wider world, and is also neurodiverse. If this is a lot to throw at you, then it is reflective of the play itself – which has some great moments, is wonderfully performed, and looks perfect, but ultimately falls short of being truly effective, due either to excessive ambition, or a lack of control.
Mac Gabhann, in particular, is superb as Enda, and achingly portrays the frustrations, fears, and hopes of the character, down to tiny body movements and facial expressions. The rest of the cast, including Kwaku Fortune as local vet, Nick, are all charming and believable – there is a genuine sense that this is a ravaged community in a desolate part of the world, investing their hope in algae farms and resuscitating stray magpies one at a time.
In a sense, they are asked to do too much, as halfway through there is a “power outage”, with the actors informing us that the theatre had reached its carbon quota. The point is cute, if on the nose, and results in the disappearance of the stage lights, to be replaced by torches in buckets. Sound is provided by the actors using their own materials, and they never falter. However, in a device that is too passé to be interesting now, Cronin and Mac Gabhann swap roles for the next 30 minutes. It’s unnecessary, and while it adds little of value, it also serves to clutter a play that already lacked a singular point of focus.
Eugenia Genunchi’s design is beautiful and simple, bare wood and sharp green plants, with delightful details throughout. There are moments of emotional heft, especially the end, as Enda leaves and Davy and Jan finally nurse a bird back to health, but there is an unmistakeable sense that more could have been done with the set-up and talents involved.
Runs Until 5th October 2024.
The Review's Hub Score
Effective yet lacking
