Describe the Night – Bestseller Café, Dublin

Writer: Rajiv Joseph

Director: Rex Ryan

Is it true or false? Fact or fiction? This is the question you need to ask yourself both during and after this incredible production.

Describe the Night is a play that spans 90 years and examines some thought provoking aspects of war, communism and the shattered relationship between Russia and Poland. When the truth can get you killed is it ok to tell a lie?

Bring your high expectations to watch this play with and they will be met. It’s quite clear why the writer Rajiv Joseph was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his previous work. This play is beautifully written and Joseph has taken such a long complicated topic and brought it to life in an incredible way that is both believable and understandable. Highly impressive.

The cast of 7 actors who bring the characters to life, in particular the lead actor playing the Red Cavalry officer, give breath taking performances that manage to make the audience laugh on many occasions while on others leaving the room still, captivated by the emotion playing out on stage.

It would be interesting to see how the play would work with some Russian and Polish accents as there are references to accents on occasion yet all the actors spoke with their native Irish (one actor was Scottish) accent.

With some slight costume changes actors aged by decades and they managed to reaffirm this through their actions. The costumes are key throughout and the time periods matched very well as they spanned the 20s, 30s, 40s 80s and even 2010 era and more.

This believability is an important feature when it comes to playing with stereotypes; for example when having the audience believe that Polish people really ate Leech Soup. A quick glance at a Polish friend who happened to attend the show confirmed that they do not and never have eaten such a thing. This play truly impressed the Polish friend too who was impressed with the portrayal of this complicated history both recent and distant.

It was hard to find a flaw with this production. The props, music, and stage set up, were smooth and really helped bring the story to life. Describe the Night, along with the full cast of actors, should take itself to the Abbey Theatre. Both the actors, who are incredibly talented, and the play deserve this kind of platform.

Take an evening and watch this beautiful production before it finishes. It is well worth it.

Runs Until 9th December 2023.