Somewhere Out There You – Abbey Theatre – Review

28 September – 4 November 2023

Has Casey (Eimear Keating) found the perfect man? Brett (Cameron Cuffe) seems ideal. At six feet, two inches tall, he’s very much tall, dark and handsome. He doesn’t just sit around watching football and drinking beer. Instead, he is a sensitive soul who writes poetry. He works as a landscape gardener. He’s also useful in the kitchen and makes a mean quiche! Casey introduces Brett to her family who are taken aback by the speed their relationship is moving. Brett sounds perfect, or possibly a little bit too perfect, at least according to Casey’s sister Cynthia (Danielle Galligan). She starts to dig into Brett’s past and finds some uncomfortable truths…

This is a new play written by Nancy Harris, the Irish playwright and screenwriter. Harris is known for her 2012 play No Romance, which went on to win The Stewart Parker Award. Her play The Beacon was staged at the Gate Theatre in 2019.

The director of this production is Wayne Jordan, who is returning to work as a director after several years of exploring different directions. Jordan is known for his playful productions and from the images attached, it should be immediately obvious to all that this production is played for laughs.

There are a number of musical interludes in the story, with members of the cast singing and dancing. There is an emphasis on creating some magical moments where ‘love is in the air’. The play lacks any darker moments, despite some discussions on mental health.

This play starts with the feel of a romantic comedy, as we see the two young lovers in their perfect world, but slowly our perception of events starts to alter. There is a Charlie Kaufmanesque twist that is slowly revealed and makes you see the world in a new light. Sometimes, a relationship may seem bizarre to the outside world but if it works for those involved, where’s the problem? The writer Nancy Harris has come up with a novel device to explore issues such as mental health and our perceptions of a perfect relationship.

Director Wayne Jordan has certainly put his mark on the proceedings. There are scenes where the couple move through Dublin and later Paris, and a variety of representations of iconic monuments and landmarks are wheeled out, as the young couple promenade. A section of the set revolves, which allows for a swirling effect, that captures the romantic moments. Even the set changes work well, as one world is quickly dismantled and another created.

It is an ensemble piece that allows the full cast to show their talents. The two sisters are at the centre of the production, as their sibling rivalry is exposed. Eimear Keating plays Casey as an earnest and kind woman who just wants what everyone wants, someone to share their life with. Danielle Galligan has many of the best lines as Cynthia, her job as a weather girl with a philosophical edge is something that RTE should explore! Cameron Cuffe captures the complexity of Brett, a man with many layers. It was also enjoyable to see Stephen Brennan back on the Abbey stage, and his role as Sebastian is nicely over the top.

At two hours forty-five minutes including the interval, it could do with some tightening up! It’s unusual for a comedy to last longer than 90 minutes, so it’s surprising that it needs such a lengthy stage time. They could easily have dropped some of the less important scenes entirely.

It’s rare to see a lighthearted comedy on stage in Dublin. I’m sure there will be discussions about whether this play is ‘important’ enough to be staged in our national theatre, but it was actually quite refreshing to have something light and fun on the main stage. There are some very funny lines in the script and the cast does a good job of holding it all together. It’s a warm and upbeat piece that makes you question the nature of love and its importance in our lives.

Credits:
Casey: Eimear Keating
Brett: Cameron Cuffe
Cynthia: Danielle Galligan
Eric: Paul Reid
Alan: Enda Oates
Pauline: Lise-Ann McLaughlin
Sebastian: Stephen Brennan
Tess: Kate Stanley Brennan
Gareth/Dave/Ensemble: Donncha O’Dea
Ensemble: Teddy Moore
Ensemble: Aisling O’Mara
Ensemble: Jess Kavanagh
Marcus: Harley Cullen-Walsh
Marcus: Oscar Clancy

Writer : Nancy Harris
Director: Wayne Jordan
Assistant Director: Dolores Rice
Set Designer: Maree Kearns
Assistant Set Designer: Ronan Duffy
Costume Designer : Catherine Fay
Lighting Designer: Sinéad McKenna
Composer and Sound Designer: Sinéad Diskin
Movement Director: Paula O’Reilly
Casting Director: Sarah Jones
Voice Director: Andrea Ainsworth
Promotional Image Photographer: Sarah Doyle