One is not oneself – New Theatre – Review by Helen O’Leary

Feb 2nd – Feb 14th @ 7.30pm
Previews Mon 2nd & Tues 3rd Feb.
Tickets: €15 / €12 conc. (€10 preview / groups 10+)

The title for the play is derived from the husband of a middle-aged couple who is seemingly ‘not himself’. Both partners (Mark O’ Regan and Paula Greevy-Lee) are grieving the loss of their only son. We meet the husband of the couple thrown in his armchair; withdrawn, lethargic and anxious to be left alone. He clamps his earphones to his ears and delves into his newspaper determined to block out the maudlin musings of his wife. A yawning distance is growing between the couple and the first five minutes are full of taut silences and the husband’s comical tormented facial expressions. But if this wife is heart broken she is also persistent.

She is determined to use the Noel Coward music they all loved as a family to needle her husband out of his apathy. She besieges him with snippets of Noel Coward compositions despite his obvious irritation. Gradually her husband is moved to take part. Ironically by degrees he becomes more himself while pretending to be someone else. Soon they the both belting out the Noel Coward numbers and shimming around the stage to A Bar on the Piccolo Marina and Has anyone seen our ship? There is some hilarious rusty-limbed tango dancing to Nina and poignant moments too with the performance of less jubilant Coward songs like ‘Mad about a boy’. Their deceased son (Ronan Murray) is a constant presence on stage, but never faces the audience, playing the piano music that accompanies his parent’s performances.

This thoroughly enjoyable and funny play is written by Gerard Lee. It is produced by the Cadence Theatre Company who make theatre pieces that combine drama, music and dance. Matthew Ralli succeeds in directing a play about grief and loss that is both uplifting and life affirming.

One is not oneself – New Theatre