Enjoy – Project Arts Centre – Review by Frank L.

01 Dec 2015-05 Dec 2015 | € 11 – € 16

Written by Toshiki Okada

Toshiki Okada was born in Yokohama in 1973 and is a playwright, theatre director, novelist and founder of the chelftisch theatre company. Enjoy is a play written in 2006. This production has been created by Rough Magic as part of their SEEDS programme which is a structured development initiative for emerging theatre practitioners which lasts for two years. The practitioners work together from the outset participating in separate programmes designed around the individual but integrated within the collaborative spirit of the company. It is from that base that this production of the play has its source.

Enjoy is a challenging work set in a Tokyo coffee shop on a floor of a multi storey building with a karaoke bar taking up three floors below. That is a strange world for a Dublin audience to encounter.

Not so strange is the problem of an age gap from 22 to 30 something plus to which constant reference is made. This gap and how it affects or may be perceived to affect relationships between staff who work in the coffee shop is a theme which runs throughout. The various dialogues written by Okada are precise and demand of the actors considerable verbal dexterity and skill. They also require subtle, small gestural talents as for example the opening soliloquy in a men’s urinal reveals.

There are nine actors and each is required to perform at the zenith of their linguistics skills. John Doran’s mastery of the necessary linguistic gymnastics is entitled to be mentioned. However the entire cast showed in their individual performances skills and qualities as the various parts are similar in length so each actor has a substantial part to perform. Into this quite often cerebral world, the talentless world of karaoke also makes an appearance with a rendition of a song either loved or hated by the disco generation of the late seventies/early eighties. It comes as a surprise but it acts as a fine juxtaposition to the agonising over age and the coffee shop’s not so politically correct policy to potential customers who may not be hygienic.

The set consists of three grey walls in which stands five simple, well designed chairs. At the back right there is a gap for entrances and exits. There is one prop … an industrial floor cleaner. The simplicity of the set means that concentration is placed on the words and the actor’s individual movements. The play last an hour and a half without an interval and Zoe ni Riordain’s direction ensures the time passes effortlessly and at the end your brain is grappling with a cornucopia of ideas and images.

Enjoy – Project Arts Centre – 01 Dec 2015-05 Dec 2015 | € 11 – € 16