Writer: Hannah Moscovitch
Directed By: Samantha Cade
A very strong opening night for Hannah Moscovitch’s Little One, starring Dan Monaghan and Hannah Brady. Little One is a non-linear psychological thriller where Aaron (Monaghan) relays his childhood trauma at the hands of his adopted younger sister “Claire” (Brady) which is now coming back to haunt him from a tape recorder. We follow Aaron as he relives these memories including their neighbours’ violent relationship, a camping trip and road-kill. Claire seems mysteriously intertwined in the neighbour’s lives, occasionally taking over as narrator, as if she was there… Aaron is under immense pressure from his physically absent parents to be the golden older brother, be kind to his sister and love her like a sister, but how can someone love a psychopath?
As the play consists of a series of Aaron’s childhood memories, there is a tendency to repetition resulting in an observant state of dizziness. However, Moscovitch’s script is deeply engaging and twisted, a fast-paced one act that keeps you wanting to know more. The intense subject matter will leave you breathless, and is handled very well by Monaghan’s comedic tone and timing, allowing necessary moments of relief. He beautifully weaves numerous emotions into his text and performance, challenging the emotional battle of love and hate. Monaghan and Brady’s energy was magnetic, pulling you in moment by moment. The cast beautifully handled the change in time through physicality which expressed a clear juxtaposition between the characters natural state. As we see Aaron remodel to fit his age, Claire eerily remains quite the same. Brady keeps a fantastically consistent hold on the deep and dark character of Claire, understanding this character’s quirks and triggers through and through. Brady hypnotically encourages us to empathize with a psychopath.
The intimate spacing of the Glass Mask Theatre, enables the physical performance to be in your face with some intense descriptions of horrific circumstances. The set and lighting design enhances this atmosphere! Praise to lighting designer Eoin Lennon for his radiant LED frame that ebbs and flows as emotions shift and helps observers keep track of time jumps from past to present. This works well with Migle Ryan’s clever colour palette presented in costume. Denis Clohessy’s harrowing sound design emanates the haunting atmosphere and beautifully revives key moments.
Samantha Cade’s direction is genius, expressing this toxic sibling dynamic through a rubber band effect of distance and tension. For a small space, the performers were allowed to occasionally find their own space before then becoming physically restrained and overpowered. Cade’s direction served the script with absolute justice.
Little One raises deep topics to be discussed surrounding the themes of love and family, pushing the boundaries of generational and societal support and how strong love can be in overruling trauma felt through the years.
Runs Until 5th April 2025.
