It seems that the further distanced we are from the death of Princess Diana, the more writers are able to draw from and feed into her mythology. Currently in London, The Diana Mixtape offers a drag homage to the People’s Princess, while in Edinburgh Hannah Power and Conor Murray’s new play Don’t Tell Dad About Diana offers a parallel aesthetic.
In 1997 Dublin, Conor (Murray) and Hannah (Power) are best friends on a mission. With a shared, cult-like devotion to Diana, they embark on a plan that will enable both of them to escape to a better life in London. With Hannah’s exceptional tailoring skills, Conor will perform a sassy Diana tribute – wedding dress with a revenge dress reveal – and win the Alternative Miss Ireland competition. But they have to keep it a secret from Conor’s Irish nationalist father. What they aren’t prepared for is a shock announcement that threatens to scuttle their plans for good.
As performers, Murray and Power have an obvious affinity with the text that allows them to bring genuine emotional weight to the characters and situation. For a rather sweet coming-out/coming-of-age story, the sometimes dark comedy is tightly written and it doesn’t travel the expected path. Hannah rather than Conor is the catalyst for escape and the loose cannon in this dynamic duo. There is a single-mindedness in her desire for escape that perhaps masks a sea of discontent, but it’s not explored fully. It’s the only downside to an otherwise satisfying play about friendships that thrive, even in adversity.
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