Writer & Director: Áine Ryan
Life is made of Joy and Woe
And once this we surely know
Forward through the World we go.
The above quote from a poem by William Blake sums up this wonderful One Act Play Paddy Goes to Petra written and directed by Áine Ryan who manages to tenderly assimilate all the layers of parental grief and loss. A middle aged Irish farmer and his wife Áilis travel to the Middle East after the death of their only son Killian. The setting of the piece takes place in Petra where Paddy befriends Bedouins living there. Ryan articulates all the sights and sounds of Petra in this theatrical presentation.
Haunting music composed by Eyal Arad and Cáit Ní Riain opens a door to the caves of the ancient city. Abstract drapes in set design by Constance Comparot and lighting by Colm Maher create the impression of the towering red rocks of Petra, and also give the illusion of the intimacy of a cave where Paddy retreats to find solace. As the play unfolds, Paddy finds peace and release from his feelings which he had successfully repressed in Ireland.
Brendan Dunlea is superb in the role of Paddy, capturing the shock and numbness of a father struggling to come to terms with the death of his son. The actor allows the audience to see inside the deep chasm of his sadness. Lulled into a state of secure voyeurism we can become involved in the character’s story and empathise with his journey; secure in recognising our own relationship with loss, because of the delicate handling of a sensitive subject which affects us all – our privacy as an audience is never breached. In Dunlea’s interpretation of the role, he gradually assimilates himself into the culture of the Bedouin, and the landscape of Petra. Several diverse characters are introduced and clearly drawn throughout the story through subtle use of body language and voice.
All the elements of production: lighting, sound, writing, character interpretation, are synthesised cohesively to organise a set of impressions which make a lasting mark on mind and memory in the audience.
Runs Until 23rd November 2024.
The Review's Hub Score
Masterful
