The Quiet Land at Bewley’s Café Theatre – Review by P. McGovern

August 17 – September 05, 2015
Time: 1pm (doors at 12.50pm)
Starring Des Keogh and Derry Power

A tall milk churn stands out, strong and stark, in the foreground against a receding rustic landscape. A smaller one, heavily rusted and almost invisible downstage right. Symbolising a community in decay, a way of life no longer sustainable? Perhaps. There’s a stile that hasn’t been crossed, not yet, but soon perhaps . . . At either extremity of the stage is a straggly tree struggling to retain its dried out, withered leaves. There’s the obvious resonance with Godot’s tree: the passage of time, two isolated figures united in loneliness. Andrew Murray’s thoughtful setting hints – without shouting – and in doing so sets the tone for Bairbre Ni Chaoimh’s beautifully orchestrated direction of Malachy McKenna’s play.

While the setting is rural, the core of this play is neither rural nor urban: it is universal. Time, transience, the change forced upon us by aging and related vulnerability. As Nashee and Eamonn meet, there is banter, the exchange of news, observations and speculation about neighbours and relatives. Old conquests on the football field, or near misses in the world of romance, distract the men briefly and deflect them from their darker concerns – their changed, changing and perhaps soon-to-be-changed-forever world. The mutual affection, respect and concern for each other’s welfare are unmistakable even if not articulated. Nashee will take a step to resolve his dilemma. Eamonn’s future is unclear.

While McKenna does not flinch from confronting the loneliness and bleakness of two men jolted from their contented lives into constant apprehension, the bleakness of his theme is relieved by flashes of warmth, fun and sly jokes. He and director, Ni Chaoimh, are well served by the balanced, sure footed playing of Des Keogh as Nashee and Derry Power as Eamonn. Telling silences, momentary hesitations, subtle shifts of tone and posture, immaculate timing – here are two masters of their craft in a beautifully paced production that continues until September 5th, daily at 1 pm. It is a richly rewarding play and you are unlikely to see a better production. Go!

THE QUIET LAND
By Malachy McKenna
Directed by Bairbre Ni Chaoimh
Starring Des Keogh and Derry Power

Winner of the PJ O’Connor Radio Drama Award 2014