Until Saturday, 30 July 2016 – Abbey Theatre
Running time: 3 Hours and 5 Minutes

Vera has returned to her native county with a purpose. After a long time in New York, she has come home to witness the auction of a hotel she inherited, but also to mourn her Grandmother, the woman who raised her who recently died. She did not make it to the funeral as her family neglected to tell her of the death. This is just another sign of the difficulties between her and her siblings. Vera has not come to cause problems, but she needs to make sense of their actions and also to say goodbye.

This play was written by Tom Murphy in 1998. This new production is directed by Annabelle Comyn, who received much praise for her version of The House, also written by Murphy. This work is quite different as it contains a brutality and vicious nature not evident in the other. The play is not one of Murphy’s best works, with an unusual structure and no clear resolution, but it does have some interesting characters for the actors to inhabit.

The stage has to create a variety of spaces, with bedrooms, hotel reception rooms and sitting rooms, and while much of it is left to the imagination, there are some impressive mechanics and transformations. Sinéad McKenna’s lighting is moody and sullen, with much made of the shadows. The gloomy nature is reflected by the ghoulish characters on stage.

The most impressive part of this production is the acting, with Aisling O’Sullivan showing the frailty and vulnerability required for her role as the deeply troubled Vera. Without this light touch, it would be difficult to care for this disturbed character. Lorcan Cranitch also stands out as Tom, a business man who is willing to do anything to achieve his aims. Frank McCusker adds levity to many scenes with his portrayal of Henry, an alcoholic protestant who feels quite removed from the rest of the clan. It is interesting that the play was written before the events of Celtic Tiger Ireland as it seems to predict much of the greed and corruption of the era, but possibly this was always present in the Irish psyche.

Credits

Jasper Cahill – Norman
Kelly Campbell – Mary Jane
Lorcan Cranitch – Tom
Brian Doherty – Finbar
Tina Kellegher – Marcia
Nichola MacEvilly – Caitriona
Ruth McCabe – Mrs. Conneeley
Frank McCusker – Henry
Pat Nolan – Fr Billy
Aisling O’Sullivan – Vera
James O’Donoghue – Norman

Ciarán O’Grady – Fight Director
Bryan Burroughs – Movement Director
Philip Stewart – Composer and Sound Designer
Sarah Bacon – Costume Designer
Sinéad McKenna – Lighting Designer
Paul O’Mahony – Set Designer
Annabelle Comyn – Director