FEROCITY

BY CHRISTIAN O’REILLY

MAGIC PILL PRODUCTIONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE TOWN HALL THEATRE AND DECADENT THEATRE COMPANY

REVIEW BY JUDY MURPHY

The intimate setting of Druid Theatre is perfect for Christian O’Reilly’s powerful new play, Ferocity, directed by Andrew Flynn. Set in Christmas 1981, in Kerry, it focuses on events that unfold over a few days as a family gathers to mark the season.

Alcohol is consumed, old ways are challenged, love and loyalty are tested, and hard lessons are learned.

The childless Alice (Marion O’Dwyer) is matriarch of the big country house where the family gathers. She has definite ideas about proper behaviour, including that of her 10-year-old grand-nephew Kevin (Ronan Harney), recently arrived from England with his mother Sally (Aisling Kearns), following the break-up of Sally’s marriage. They live with Alice in this hard-to-heat old house, along with her sister, Sally’s mother Rose (Clelia Murphy).  Rose and Alice run a guesthouse, “it’s not a B&B”, says Rose – a distinction that matters to her generation of the ‘big house’ family.

They’re being joined for Christmas by Sally’s ex-husband, the philandering Jonathan (Patrick Ryan). Alice and Rose’s brother, Roger (Mark Lambert), who lives nearby, is also staying.

Central to everything is housekeeper Cathy (Molly Logan), who both is and is not part of the family. She provides much of the humour while also connecting this household to the outside world.  They’ve lived in North Kerry for generations, but are not fully accepted in a place where the IRA has influence.

Alice is fearless, however, determined to protect her family, especially Kevin, whom she loves with an intense ferocity. She’s also like a mother to Rose, a fey creature capable of great insight and great silliness. Kevin’s mother Sally works to assert her role in his life, operating on instinct and love rather than the discipline favoured by Alice. All three do their best and Kevin loves them all.

He also loves his father, Jonathan, a novelist and hard drinker, who is neither a good father nor husband.

Kevin’s grand-uncle Roger, whom Alice has charged with teaching the boy Irish to help him integrate locally, buys him a bike for Christmas, rather than the meagre football Jonathan brings.

This is a significant Christmas for Alice as she tries to ensure Kevin’s happiness and the future of her household. But the ticking clock that can be heard frequently in the background – even as its hands don’t move – indicates that time is marching on in this claustrophobic world of Victorian furniture and bone china, as created by set and lighting designer Ciarán Bagnall.

Sinead Cuthbert’s costumes, as well as Gay Byrne’s voice and references to new video games, Diego Maradonna, and Christmas carols playing in the background place Ferocity in 1981, while songs like Hungry Heart, offer a more timeless message.

Ferocity is humorous, sad and disturbing as O’Reilly moves the action forward mostly through dialogue. Any potential melodrama is held at bay by Andrew Flynn’s sure-handed direction and the actors’ restraint. In a superb cast, Marion O’Dwyer and Mark Lambert are outstanding, while 13-year-old Ronan Harney from Aughrim is mesmerising as Kevin in a play that lingers after the action ends.

Ferocity is at Druid Theatre until November 15.

Pictured: Marion O’Dwyer and Mark Lambert in Ferocity. Photo: Ciaran Bagnall