The Last Pearl – Project Arts Centre – Review

Theatre / 29 April – 11 May 2024
Tickets: €18/€16 | €16/€14 Preview
Show Time: 7:30pm

The production tells the story of a woman in unusual circumstances. She lives in a small community of Stilt houses, with long poles raising the structures above the sea. There is no sign of land in any direction. We see her life and the impact of a large storm which hits the community, causing untold damage.

This production is by Blue Raincoat Theatre, the Sligo-based company responsible for The Third Policeman and more recently Shackleton, which visited the Project Arts Centre in 2017. This production follows a similar style to Shackleton, and they are developing something quite unique in Irish theatre with their use bunraku and shadow puppetry throughout.

The story is based loosely on the ideas of James Lovelock, the English scientist and environmentalist. Lovelock is best known for his theory of Gaia, which says the Earth functions as a self-regulating system.

The production is entirely without text, and the puppets are the only characters on stage. The five performers on stage move the various models and puppets, bringing the world to life. The particulars of the story are open to the interpretation of the viewer. We see it as a distant future but it could just as easily be the past. The story is quite simple but the real joy of the production is as a study of movement. We see the puppets swim through the water, as they push and pull their limbs. There are also moments where the movement of the waves is captured, as long pieces of silk are stretched along the surface of the stage, and then flicked to create a long flowing wave. The piece is a slow and tranquil experience, and it is helped by the soundtrack with ambient and orchestral music. It’s not aimed at children, but I suspect it would resonate with the old and young. It is a visual feast that will charm and beguile.

Director Niall Henry
Designer Jamie Vartan
Dramaturg Jocelyn Clarke
Sound Design Joe Hunt
Lighting Design Barry McKinney
Set build Alan Clarke
Production Manager Maurice Power
Cast: Sandra O Malley, Aisling Mannion, Áine Ní Laoghaire, Brian Devaney, John Carty