From a Low and Quiet Sea – Decadent Theatre – Review
by Frank L

From a Low and Quiet Sea – Written by Donal Ryan
Touring Ireland – Remaining Dates below

The Novel ‘From a Low and Quiet Sea’ was written by Donal Ryan in 2018. This adaptation by Decadent Theatre Company is in the middle of an 18-venue national tour and is also written by Ryan. There are four characters; a mother Florence (Eva Bartley), her son Lumpy (Darragh O’Toole), a Syrian immigrant Farouk (Aosaf Afzal), and an elderly solitary man John (Denis Conway). The back wall of the set has a magnificent, predominantly blue, textured drape which alters to other colours throughout the play. The rest of the stage is bare other than for a small rectangular box, which is used occasionally. The only props in the play are a small white feather and the crutch with which John walks.

The story is told as a series of monologues and each of the four actors tells a part of their story alone on stage. The first is John who has many grievances not least that he was the second son. His elder brother was adored by their father but died tragically young. John is a mean-spirited man who has operated the system to his own advantage. Second is Farouk who describes the horrendous debates that he had with himself and his wife as they try to decide whether to flee their war-torn country of Syria. The third is Lumpy, a young man who lives with his mother, Florence, and grandfather. Lumpy’s first love is no more and he is tormented by who he is. Finally, there is Florence whose life centres on her son Lumpy, the alpha and omega of her universe.

As each character returns and explains more about their past and innermost fears and desires, the audience understands the various pressures and experiences which now colour the inner loneliness of each life. These continuous monologues keep the audience engrossed. There are some overlaps between the lives of the characters which are slowly revealed. Ryan keeps you in suspense throughout.  It is only in the last act that the four characters are on stage together when some of the interconnections between the characters are brought into the light. It is a beautifully written text and the stark manner in which it is performed has your brain working overtime about how it is going to develop and resolve.

The combination of the quality of Ryan’s prose and the delivery of that prose ensured that one’s attention did not wander. It is an unusual play given the dominance of the successive single narratives but it works and more importantly, it leaves you wishing to know more about the life of each of these individuals. The play encompasses many issues which face contemporary Ireland. It is a well-written piece delivered with some style that will provoke a healthy debate afterwards.

Find out more about Decadent Theatre Company here.

May
Sun 28 Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Meath
Wed 31 Glór, Ennis, Clare
June
Thu 1 Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny
Fri 2 & Sat 3 Wexford Arts Centre
Wed 7 St. John’s Theatre, Listowel, Kerry
Thu 8 & Fri 9 Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Kildare
Sat 10 Draiocht, Blanchardstown, Dublin