The Delirium Archive – Project Arts Centre – Review

The Delirium Archive by Shane Mac an Bhaird – Rough Magic
Dates: 16 April – 9 May

Set in a not-too-distant future, we meet the O’Connor family somewhere in Mayo. There has been an unnamed environmental catastrophe, which has caused a yellow fog to descend to cover the land. The family are trapped indoors, unable to go outside for even the briefest of moments, their house sealed to stop the fog from entering. The family spend their time recording their memories for the Delirium Archive, which is a “memory-collection trial that promises digital immortality”. The individuals relive events from their past while wearing a large VR headset, almost like they are trapped inside their memory. The arrival of the Collector (Ian Toner), who works for the Delirium Archive, promises a chance of something new.

The father of the family, Tomás (Ronan Leahy), is filled with wild enthusiasm and energy. He is the biggest believer in the powers of the Delirium Archive and urges the others to finish recording their memories. The mother of the family, Caitríona (Úna Kavanagh), seems bored with her small world and yearns for the freedom of her youth. She remembers a chance encounter with a beautiful man in her early 20s, recording it to her archive. The two children have known little else other than life inside the house. Octavia (Megan McDonnell) has been communicating with a boy from a nearby family and wants to leave the house and start a new life with him. Vassilinki (David Rawle) is a product of this new world and lacks the social skills to integrate into real society. He almost seems happy to be trapped inside. He’s socially awkward and geeky, but essentially good-natured. The Collector (Ian Toner) is another oddball character who seems fascinated by the lives of the families he observes but is quite distinct from them.

The piece can be taken as a reflection on our recent Covid lockdown taken to an extreme. You yearn to know the small details of the world, how the ‘apocalypse’ happened or what the family eat, but writer Shane Mac an Bhaird leaves us guessing, instead focusing on the twisted family dynamics.

It’s unusual to see a science fiction piece on stage, and there is a reason for that. While the set designer, Ellen Kirk, does a good job of creating this family space, complete with stylish hazmat suits and decontamination sprays, we never get to see the fog or what has changed in the world outside. It is a closed, isolated world, ultimately focused on the kitchen of the family home.

Works such as this need a strong ending to tie together the ideas and concepts on display and elevate it from a series of sketches. When the ending arrives, it lacks a powerful enough punch to make the work memorable. What the play delivers is a series of interesting characters and a quite unique setting. The moments of comedy are the high points, and writer Shane Mac an Bhaird has some funny lines and quirky ideas on display.

Cast: 
Caitríona: Úna Kavanagh
Tomás: Ronan Leahy
Octavia: Megan McDonnell
Vassilinki: David Rawle
Collector/Auctioneer: Ian Toner

Production credits

Writer: Shane Mac an Bhaird

Director: Eoghan Carrick

Set Designer: Ellen Kirk

Lighting Designer: Sarah Jane Shiels

Video Designer: Eoin Robinson

Costume Designer: Sorcha Ni Fhloinn

Rough Magic Associate Director: Dominic O’Brien

Music and Sound Designer: Denis Clohessy