Lourdes! The Musical – Dublin Theatre Festival – Review

Lourdes! The Musical – The World Premiere Presented by Xnthony as Part of the Dublin Theatre Festival @ The Civic Theatre
25 Sep – 10 Oct | 7:30pm, matinees 2:30pm

Matthew (Riain Cash) is about to have one of the biggest days of his life, but not for the reason he expects. He has an audition for the biggest role of his career: a part in a musical that is about to head to America. The only problem is that, before the audition, he has a doctor’s appointment to get test results. When the doctor tells him that he is HIV positive, it is not the news he was expecting.

Despite the shock of the diagnosis, Matthew manages to get through the audition, and it goes well. However, the role ultimately falls through, leaving him with little choice but to lick his wounds and return to the small town where he was born. There, he finds his loving mother and a collection of familiar faces from his childhood. Before long, he becomes involved in a local amateur production of Bernadette: The Musical, which is due to be performed under the bright lights of Lourdes!

Matthew makes the journey alongside the local trendy priest (Iestyn Arwel) — he wears runners, you know — and his assistant, Martha (Molly Lynch). Among the other central characters are Danica (Nichola MacEvilly) and her trans daughter Tracey (Danielle James). They’re travelling to Lourdes as Danica has cancer and is hoping for a miracle!

The production has book and lyrics by Xnthony, with music and lyrics by Matthew Floyd Jones. Despite Xnthony’s recent success with Oliver Cromwell Is Really Very Sorry, this is a substantially different work. If you are expecting something similar to his brash and bold exploration of the Lord Protector, you may be disappointed. You might also expect the production to offer a satirical take on the miracle industry surrounding Lourdes, but this is a much more sincere and heartfelt piece.

At its centre is a young man struggling to come to terms with a life-changing diagnosis, surrounded by a group of people who are themselves travelling to Lourdes in search of something — whether that is a miracle or simply a reason to keep going. The result is less interested in laughs than it is in exploring the character’s vulnerabilities.

The production is staged on a raised platform with minimal scenery. A screen at the back of the stage displays a variety of images that help establish different locations and moods, while much of the play’s world is left to the imagination. This stripped-back approach allows the performers and the music to remain firmly at the centre of the production.

The show lacks some of the humour and irreverence of Xnthony’s previous work, and at times it can feel a little too earnest. While there is humour, it’s not quite as cutting as before. There is, however, a genuine sincerity here that will resonate with many audience members. These are essentially good people, dealing with difficult circumstances, and the production wisely avoids easy stereotypes and obvious theatrical tropes.

The music and lyrics are playful, offering a mixture of infectious club anthems and slower, more reflective ballads. There is an appealing ambition to the whole production, particularly given how unusual it is to see a brand-new musical take to the stage. The care and attention that have gone into creating the piece are evident. At its best, it is a warm and compassionate story about illness and the human desire to believe that, somehow, things might still turn out all right.

Credits
Book & Lyrics by: Xnthony
Music & Lyrics by: Matthew Floyd Jones

Directed by: Sarah Meadows
Associate Director: Ciara Fleming
Set, Costume & Video Design: Niall McKeever
Associate Set, Costume & Video Design: Natalia Alvarez
Lighting Design: Joshua Gadsby
Costume Supervisor: Evelien Van Camp
Wardrobe Assistant: Gráinne Earley

Choreography: Meadhbh Lyons
Dramaturgy: Eleanor White
Music Production & Sound Design: Matt Huxley

Musical Directors: Michael Bradley and Dustin Conrad

Featuring original material by: ÓDÚ
Producer: Hannah Turk
Assistant Producer: Alice Malseed
Casting Director: Áine O’Sullivan
Marketing Support by: Jack O’Dea

Marketing Assistance: Conor Gormally
PR Support by: Conleth Teevan

Production Management by: Jakub Sobczak
Company Stage Management by: Jack Shanley
Deputy Stage Management by: Katherine Huddleston
Assistant Stage Management & Props Mastery by: Ruby Collin

Sound Engineering: John Norton
Chief LX: Paddy Keating
Flying Operation: Gus
Cast: Danielle James, Iestyn Arwel, Molly Lynch, Nichola MacEvilly, Riain Cash
Musicians: Guy Richman, Michael Bradley, Philip Myatt