The Cure for Cancer – Project Arts Centre – Review

The Cure for Cancer – La Polenta International
Dates & Times – 28 – 31 October

In this production, we meet a young unnamed scientist, played by Kate Finegan, who is working on an age-old problem: the battle against cancer. She is extremely dedicated to her work, but it has come at a cost. She has neglected her social life and is lonely. Her mother (Fiona McGeown) is concerned and wants her to get out and meet new people. When a janitor (Ankur Vikal) at her place of work admits that he has taken one of the guinea pigs home with him, she is shocked. These guinea pigs are test subjects with a short life expectancy, but the janitor claims that his has survived and is thriving. Our protagonist sets out to investigate by visiting his home, but is this a work expedition or, in fact, a date?

This new play was written and directed by Gabriel Graves and produced by La Polenta International, a “Dublin-based contemporary theatre company and creative production hub”. Graves is an award-winning Argentine playwright and director, and this production offers a glimpse of the breadth and scope of his work.

The fourth cast member is James Ireland, who provides musical interludes throughout, as well as playing several minor characters, including Uber drivers, prominent scientists and revolutionaries.

The show features a multitude of locations and settings, but this is a stripped-back production that leaves much to the audience’s imagination. The four cast members wear boiler suits, and many of the props are created using everyday objects. It’s a DIY approach that puts the focus firmly on the acting, with playful attempts to draw the audience into its world.

Many productions in Dublin’s smaller venues last just under an hour, offering a brief insight into the protagonist’s world. This one, however, runs for almost 90 minutes and delivers a full story arc. It’s a work that could easily be expanded for a larger stage or adapted into an offbeat indie movie. Its run at the Project Arts Centre was brief, with much of the public’s attention focused on all things ghoulish for Halloween! The play has a welcome touch of humour and maintains a brisk pace throughout, sweeping the audience along in a series of unorthodox happenings and playful ideas. It leaves you curious to see what La Polenta International might create next.

Production Credits: 
Written & Directed by Gabriel Graves
Cast: Kate Finegan, James Ireland, Fiona McGeown, Ankur Vikal
Set & Lighting Design: Jess Fitzsimons Kane
Costume Design: Valentina Gambardella
Music: James Ireland
Dramaturg: Jocelyn Clarke
Assistant Set and Lighting Designer: Iris Liange
Stage Manager: Em Kelleher
Production Manager: David Farrelly
Chief Electrician: Eoin Lennon
Graphic Design: Martha Hegarty
Promotional and Production Photography: Marcin Lewandowski
Rehearsal Photography and Archival Video: Nathan Snow
Marketing / PR: Jack O’Dea
Advisory Producer: Gwen Van Spÿk
Producer: Miles Harrigan